Determination of the Elemental Composition of Ayahuasca and Assessments Concerning Consumer Safety
Biological Trace Element Research June 5, 2020 Ivanilce Cristina Guimarães, Luís Fernando Tófoli, Alessandra Sussulini 7 citations
Ayahuasca, a brew made from two Amazonian plants, is consumed worldwide, raising safety concerns about its oral use. This study analyzed the elemental composition of ready-to-consume ayahuasca samples from Brazilian religious groups. Concentrations of macroelements (Ca, Mg, K, P) and microelements (Li, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) were measured using ICP OES and ICP-MS after acid digestion. All detected levels fell below recommended daily intake values and permitted limits for toxic heavy metals, indicating that ayahuasca is safe for oral administration regarding total elemental content.