Pharmacognosy of Ayahuasca
Planta Medica March 1, 2011 Lj Standish, Dean B. Reardon, Simon Phipps et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea used by indigenous South American tribes, contains the alkaloids dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and beta-carbolines. DMT concentrations varied more than tenfold among different ceremonial brews. Beta-carboline levels differed when the two plants were decocted together versus separately. Freezing at -80°C degraded active alkaloids, while refrigeration and room temperature did not. Analytical methods are now ready for phase I and II clinical trials to evaluate ayahuasca as a serotonin agonist for psychiatric disorders.