Gas chromatographic analysis of dimethyltryptamine and β‐carboline alkaloids in ayahuasca, an amazonian psychoactive plant beverage
Ana Paula Salum Pires, Carolina Dizioli Rodrigues de Oliveira, Sidnei Moura, Felipe Augusto Dörr, Wagner Abreu E. Silva, Maurı́cio Yonamine
Phytochemical Analysis January 12, 2009 DOI: 10.1002/pca.1110 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA gas chromatographic method was developed to simultaneously measure the main active alkaloids in ayahuasca preparations: N,N-dimethyltryptamine from Psychotria viridis and the β-carbolines harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine from Banisteriopsis caapi. Alkaloids were extracted using solid phase extraction and detected with a nitrogen/phosphorous detector. The method achieved a lower limit of quantification of 0.02 mg/mL for all analytes, with linear calibration curves from 0.02 to 4.0 mg/mL and precision below 10% relative standard deviation. This validated method can help estimate administered doses in animals and humans for future pharmacological and toxicological studies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Method development and validation Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Harmine Chemistry Harmaline Gas chromatography |
| Citations | 74 |
| Key finding | A simple gas chromatographic method to determine the main alkaloids in ayahuasca was developed and validated, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.02 mg/mL and linear range of 0.02–4.0 mg/mL. |
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Ayahuasca is obtained by infusing the pounded stems of Banisteriopsis caapi in combination with the leaves of Psychotria viridis . P . viridis is rich in the psychedelic indole N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine, whereas B . caapi contains substantial amounts of β ‐carboline alkaloids, mainly harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, which are monoamine‐oxidase inhibitors. Because of differences in composition in ayahuasca preparations, a method to measure their main active constituents is needed. Objective To develop a gas chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of dimethyltryptamine and the main β ‐carbolines found in ayahuasca preparations. Methodology The alkaloids were extracted by means of solid phase extraction (C 18 ) and detected by gas chromatography with nitrogen/phosphorous detector. Results The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.02 mg/mL for all analytes. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 0.02–4.0 mg/mL ( r 2 > 0.99). The method was also precise (RSD < 10%). Conclusion A simple gas chromatographic method to determine the main alkaloids found in ayahuasca was developed and validated. The method can be useful to estimate administered doses in animals and humans for further pharmacological and toxicological investigations of ayahuasca. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.