Revista Neurociências
September 30, 2014
Janille Santos Corrêa, Vanessa Almeida Amorin, Denismar Alves Nogueira et al.
2 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis and used in religious contexts, was tested for its effect on the number of neuronal cell bodies in the mouse cerebral cortex. Fifteen mice were divided into three groups: a control group given saline for 15 days, a group given a single dose of ayahuasca extract, and a group given the extract daily for 15 consecutive days (dose 30 mg/ml). Alkaloids were confirmed in the tea. Image analysis showed no difference in the quantity of cortical neuronal cell bodies between the control group and either experimental group. The tea, at the dose and duration used, caused no quantitative change in neuronal cell bodies in the mouse cerebral cortex.
Revista Neurociências
September 1, 2014
Janille Santos Corrêa, Vanessa Almeida Amorin, Denismar Alves Nogueira et al.
2 citations
In mice, daily administration of ayahuasca extract for 15 days did not alter the number of neuron cell bodies in limbic, sensory, or motor areas of the cerebral cortex compared to a control group. A single dose also produced no change. The study counted neuron cell bodies in three groups of five mice each: one control group given saline, one given a single 30 mg/ml dose of ayahuasca extract, and one given the same dose daily for 15 days. The authors conclude that, at this dose and duration, ayahuasca does not affect neuron cell body counts in the examined cortical regions.
Revista Neurociências
September 25, 2025
Vinícius Nascimento Cavalcante Da Silva, Gisele Ferreira de Freitas, Julia Martins de Lima Moscatelli et al.
MDMA, administered in controlled doses (75mg to 180mg) during supervised sessions, significantly reduces depressive symptoms, even in cases resistant to conventional treatments. Therapeutic effects include rapid mood improvement, increased empathy, and reduced emotional isolation, with benefits sustained for months. Adverse events, such as tachycardia and nausea, were mild and transient. These findings suggest MDMA is a viable alternative for treating depressive disorder, especially refractory cases, though further studies are needed to validate its efficacy, safety, and clinical feasibility, and to overcome regulatory and logistical challenges.
Revista Neurociências
May 13, 2025
Eliza Maria Bonot, Mariana Pereira de Souza Goldim
Ayahuasca, a traditional indigenous beverage containing the hallucinogenic alkaloid DMT, was studied through an online questionnaire distributed to a Facebook group. Among 250 personal accounts analyzed, the primary reason for using the tea was therapeutic. Users reported both pleasant and unpleasant effects during and after use. The vast majority, 95% of participants, had their expectations met by the tea.
Revista Neurociências
October 16, 2024
Vitória Pereira de Menezes, Luis Felipe Batista, Vicente Meneguzzo et al.
Mental disorders are common, but treatments are limited by side effects and low efficacy. Ayahuasca, used for millennia by Indigenous peoples, is being explored as an alternative for anxiety and depression. In an observational longitudinal study of 16 first-time participants in Ayahuasca ceremonies in Brazil, anxiety scores decreased significantly one week and three months after use, and depressive symptoms dropped significantly after one week. The authors suggest the results show promise but note that controlled clinical trials with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed for definitive conclusions.
Revista Neurociências
May 28, 2024
Mariah Caroline Charafeddine Dias, Rafael Mariano de Bitenocurt
Depression affects over 300 million people globally and is a major public health concern. Conventional treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy has variable and palliative effectiveness, prompting a search for better alternatives. Ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew used for millennia by Amazonian indigenous peoples, contains DMT and other compounds. This narrative review of the literature reports that ayahuasca use is associated with improved cognitive function, lower psychopathology levels, and well-being among regular users, and shows promising results for depressive symptoms after a single dose. The authors suggest ayahuasca may not only alleviate symptoms but also address underlying causes through mindfulness-like psychological mechanisms, though more studies are needed.