Exposure to ayahuasca induces developmental and behavioral alterations on early life stages of zebrafish
Thayres S. Andrade, Rhaul Oliveira, Muriel Lopes Da Silva, Marcus Vinicius von Zuben, César Koppe Grisólia, Inês Domingues, Eloísa Dutra Caldas, Aline Pic‐taylor
Chemico-Biological Interactions August 4, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.08.001 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAyahuasca, a psychoactive brew made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis plants and used ancestrally by Amazonian populations and more recently by religious groups, causes developmental toxicity and behavioral changes in zebrafish embryos and larvae. Over 96 hours of exposure at concentrations from 0 to 1000 mg/L, the LC50 was 236.3 mg/L. Exposure led to hatching delay, loss of equilibrium, edema, and red blood cell accumulation, mainly at the highest concentration. Locomotor activity in larvae decreased at the highest concentration tested. These results align with mammal studies and highlight possible risks of uncontrolled ayahuasca use.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Zebrafish embryos and larvae |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Dose | 0 to 1000 mg/L |
| Duration | 96 h for toxicity and developmental endpoints; 120 and 144 h for locomotor activity |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Zebrafish Hatching Biology Embryo |
| Citations | 31 |
| Key finding | Ayahuasca exposure caused developmental anomalies and decreased locomotor activity in zebrafish at high concentrations. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive concoction prepared from the plants Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis which are used ancestrally by Amazonian Indian populations and more recently, by Christian religious groups in Brazil and other countries. The aims of the present study were to identify the effects of ayahuasca on zebrafish embryo development and neurobehavior. Toxicity and developmental endpoints for zebrafish embryos were assessed from 0 to 1000 mg/L over 96 h of exposure. The effects on locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae were assessed using a video tracking system (ZebraBox) from 0 to 20 mg/L and after 120 and 144 h of exposure. The LC50 of ayahuasca in zebrafish was determined as 236.3 mg/L. Ayahuasca exposure caused significant developmental anomalies in zebrafish embryos, mainly at the highest concentration tested, including hatching delay, loss of equilibrium, edema and the accumulation of red blood cells. Embryo behavior was also significantly affected, with decreased locomotor activity at the highest concentration tested. These results are in accordance with data obtained in mammal studies highlighting the possible risks of uncontrolled use of ayahuasca. Further research employing more specific behavior analysis could provide additional data on both therapeutic benefits and possible toxicological risk of ayahuasca.