Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
July 7, 2023
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
16 citations
A systematic review of 66 studies published up to December 2022 suggests that ayahuasca may have beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, and various neurobiological conditions, as well as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, demonstrating its therapeutic potential. The number of studies on this topic has been growing, reflecting interest in alternative treatments. This is the first systematic review to compile all findings on therapeutic effects associated with ayahuasca consumption.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
April 7, 2025
Thais A C Santos, Bruno S Amorim, Jefferson R Maciel et al.
1 citation
Banisteriopsis, a genus in the Malpighiaceae family with 61 species, includes B. caapi, a key ingredient in Ayahuasca tea. Analyzing 38 species (over 60% of the genus) using plastid and nuclear DNA, researchers found that Banisteriopsis originated in the Miocene about 22 million years ago. Its diversification coincided with the expansion of dry areas in South America. The genus colonized the Cerrado earlier than most plants, and the biome later served as a source of species for Neotropical rainforests. Results suggest an ancient origin for B. caapi, with no evidence of human manipulation in its diversification, supporting archaeological evidence of millennia-old exchange of uses among Amazonian peoples.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
December 2, 2022
Nicholas J Sadgrove
1 citation
Of the nearly 1000 Australian Acacia species and the 44 southern African species (reclassified as Senegalia and Vachellia in 2011), chemical analysis has confirmed tryptamines (including DMT), β-carbolines, histamines, and phenethylamines in Australian species, but no reliable published data support similar alkaloids in African species. Australian Acacia chemically resemble American Vachellia and Senegalia more than their African relatives. The review compiles tentative data and anecdotal accounts to guide further research, particularly to confirm whether tryptamine and β-carboline alkaloids co-occur in a single specimen—the prerequisite for the ayahuasca brew. These findings are discussed regarding geochemical variability, ethnobotanical implications, and the need for confirmatory studies.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
January 14, 2026
Thaís Salatiel de Azevedo, Ygor Jessé Ramos, Nina Claudia Barboza Da Silva
In the Azerin funeral rite of Candomblé Nação Angola, five sacred plant species—Elaeis guineensis, Raphia vinifera, Dracaena fragrans, Lagenaria siceraria, and Morus nigra—are deliberately chosen for their associations with deities and their capacity to provide spiritual protection. Participant observation and literature review show that these plants do not merely express protection but operate as mediating elements in communication with ancestors, structuring the greeting and continuity of ancestor worship. The work expands understanding of ritual plants in Afro-Brazilian religiosity and the biocultural heritage of these communities.