Ayahuasca characterization, metabolism in humans, and relevance to endogenous N,N-dimethyltryptamines
June 8, 2012 Ethan H. Mcilhenny, Ethan Mcilhenny 1 citation
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian tea made from Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains beta-carboline alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine) that inhibit monoamine oxidase, and often Psychotria viridis leaves rich in DMT, a psychoactive 5-HT2A agonist. A new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify the major alkaloids and their metabolites in ayahuasca, human blood, and urine. The main components in the tea were tetrahydroharmine and harmine, followed by DMT and harmaline. DMT's major metabolite was DMT-N-oxide, found in blood and urine but not in the tea. Less than 1% of the DMT dose appeared in urine or blood, despite MAO inhibition. Tetrahydroharmine was the main harmala alkaloid excreted. The method is suitable for human, ethnobotanical, and forensic studies.