Analytical techniques for the determination of tryptamines and β‐carbolines in plant matrices and in psychoactive beverages consumed during religious ceremonies and neo‐shamanic urban practices

Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage traditionally used by Amazonian indigenous communities, is gaining global popularity through syncretic religions like Santo Daime and União do Vegetal. Similarly, jurema wine, originating from indigenous cultures in northeastern Brazil, is now used in urban neo-shamanic rituals and religions such as Catimbó and Umbanda. Both drinks contain N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which requires co-administration of naturally occurring monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as β-carboline derivatives, to induce psychoactive effects in humans. This review examines the cultural use of tryptamines and β-carbolines and describes recent analytical techniques for detecting these compounds in ayahuasca, its analogues, and the plants used in preparing these beverages.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The consumption of ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage used by indigenous communities in the Amazon, is increasing worldwide due to the expansion of syncretic religions founded in the north of Brazil in the first half of the twentieth century, such as Santo Daime and União do Vegetal . Another example is the jurema wine, a drink that originated from indigenous cultures of the northeast of Brazil. It is currently used for several religious practices throughout Brazil involving urban neo‐shamanic rituals and syncretic Brazilian religions, such as Catimbó and Umbanda. Both plant products contain N,N ‐dimethyltryptamine which requires co‐administration of naturally occurring monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for example β‐carboline derivatives, in order to induce its psychoactive effects in humans. This review explores the cultural use of tryptamines and β‐carbolines and focuses on the analytical techniques that have been recently applied to the determination of these compounds in ayahuasca, its analogues, and the plants used during the preparation of these beverages. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.