Psychoactive and Organic Effects of Banisteriopsis caapi and Diplopteris cabrerana (Cuatrec.) B. Gates in Rats
Research Journal of Medicinal Plant June 15, 2017 Juan Rojas-Arma, Américo Castro, Norma Ramos et al.
A mixture of extracts from the Amazonian plants Banisteriopsis caapi and Diplopteris cabrerana, used in ayahuasca, produced dose-dependent psychoactive and organic effects in rats. At the highest dose (7.0 mL), rats showed passivity, reduced motor activity, loss of lower limb motor function, strong convulsions, facial tremors, increased urination, irritability, and spasms. Microscopic examination revealed alterations in the brain, cerebellum, liver, and aorta. Lower doses also caused changes, which increased with dose. The findings suggest the mixture has significant biological effects that warrant further investigation.