Incilius alvarius cell-based synthesis of 5-MeO-DMT
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) May 22, 2022 Leonard Lerer, Eric C. Reynolds, Jeet Varia et al. preprint
A sustainable source of 5-MeO-DMT, a promising compound for psychiatric treatment, has been developed using a cell line from the parotoid gland of the endangered Incilius alvarius toad. This innovative approach demonstrated successful biosynthesis of 5-MeO-DMT through chemical processes in vitro. Given that natural populations are under ecological threat due to habitat loss and demand, this method offers a cruelty-free alternative for producing 5-MeO-DMT, potentially supporting future psychedelics and drug studies while preserving biodiversity.