Components of Banisteriopsis caapi, a Plant Used in the Preparation of the Psychoactive Ayahuasca, Induce Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Microglial Cells
Molecules April 13, 2022 Beatriz Werneck Lopes Santos, Daniel C. Moreira, Tatiana Karla Dos Santos Borges et al. 25 citations
Compounds from Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant used to make ayahuasca, show anti-inflammatory potential in brain immune cells. The plant extract was separated into fractions, and known β-carbolines (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine) were tested on BV-2 microglial cells, whose overactivation contributes to central nervous system disorders. Harmine at 75.5–302 µM reduced cell viability after 2 hours and increased necrotic cells and reactive oxygen species after 24 hours. Most treatments lowered proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and/or TNF, especially harmaline and fraction F5 at 2.5 µM and higher, and tetrahydroharmine at 9.3 µM and higher. These compounds may inform treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.