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José Raez

2 papers in the library · 1 citation · publishing 2016-2017

Papers

Efecto de la ingestión de Banisteriopsis caapi y Psychotria viridis ‘Binomio ayahuasca’ en el hipocampo del cerebro de ratas

Anales de la Facultad de Medicina December 16, 2016 Américo J. Castro, Norma Ramos, José R. Juárez et al. 1 citation

An experimental study in rats found that an alcoholic extract of the ayahuasca mixture (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) produced neuropathological changes in the hippocampus. At a low dose (0.7 mL), the number of granule cells increased significantly relative to pyramidal cells. At a medium dose (3.5 mL), granule cells decreased and both large and small pyramidal cells appeared. At the highest dose (7.0 mL), cellular disorganization occurred alongside large and small pyramidal cells and an increase in granule cells. Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, anthraquinones, triterpenoids, steroids, phenols, flavonoids, and saponins. The authors conclude the extract has a neuropathological effect on the rat hippocampus.

Psychoactive and Organic Effects of Banisteriopsis caapi and Diplopteris cabrerana (Cuatrec.) B. Gates in Rats

Research Journal of Medicinal Plant June 15, 2017 Juan Rojas-Arma, Américo Castro, Norma Ramos et al.

A mixture of extracts from the Amazonian plants Banisteriopsis caapi and Diplopteris cabrerana, used in ayahuasca, produced dose-dependent psychoactive and organic effects in rats. At the highest dose (7.0 mL), rats showed passivity, reduced motor activity, loss of lower limb motor function, strong convulsions, facial tremors, increased urination, irritability, and spasms. Microscopic examination revealed alterations in the brain, cerebellum, liver, and aorta. Lower doses also caused changes, which increased with dose. The findings suggest the mixture has significant biological effects that warrant further investigation.