Determination of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carboline alkaloids in human plasma following oral administration of Ayahuasca
Journal of Chromatography B October 11, 2002 Mercedes Yritia, Jordi Riba, Jordi Ortuño et al. 84 citations
A method to measure the four main alkaloids in ayahuasca (DMT, harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine) plus two major metabolites (harmol and harmalol) in human plasma is described. DMT is extracted with n-pentane and quantified by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection, achieving 74% recovery, precision and accuracy better than 9.9%, and a limit of quantification of 1.6 ng/ml. The beta-carbolines and metabolites are measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection after solid-phase extraction, with recoveries above 87%, accuracy and precision better than 13.4%, and limits of quantification from 0.3 to 1.0 ng/ml. The methods allow adequate characterization of the pharmacokinetics of these compounds, including two major metabolites not previously described.