Influence of Environmental Factors and Cultural Methods on the Content of N,N‑Dimethyltryptamine in Psychotria viridis (Rubiaceae)
Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society January 1, 2017 André D. Cavalcante, Gabriele A. Cardoso, Fernando de Oliveira et al. 11 citations
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) content in Psychotria viridis, a key ingredient in ayahuasca, varies with environmental and cultivation factors. Leaf samples from 25 locations across 14 Brazilian states and the Federal District were collected over four seasons. DMT levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and correlated with environmental parameters, plant nutrients, and farming methods. Seasonality, altitude, latitude, and biome type had the strongest effects on DMT content. A positive correlation between nitrogen and magnesium levels and DMT concentration was found. Regression analysis identified foliar nutrient levels that would yield DMT concentrations in cultivated plants similar to those of Amazonian specimens.