Harmala Alkaloids Identify Ayahausca Intoxication in a Urine Drug Screen

Ayahuasca, a traditional South American drink, produces hallucinogenic effects primarily through dimethyltryptamine (DMT), but DMT is short-lived and hard to detect in urine drug tests. This study tested a simpler detection method by targeting other drink components, the β-carboline harmala alkaloids. Three commercially available harmala alkaloids were characterized and added to a non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry urine drug screening method. Analyzing a urine sample from a patient suspected of ayahuasca consumption detected harmaline and tetrahydroharmaline (THH). Including harmala alkaloids in drug screen libraries may enable detection of ayahuasca use in patients undergoing non-targeted drug screening.

Study at a glance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ayahausca is an ethnobotanical drink of South America and the compound dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is primarily responsible for the hallucinogenic effects. DMT has a short half-life and its detection in urinary drug screens is challenging. We investigate a simple alternate approach to detect ayahuasca consumption by relying on other constituents of the drink, the β-carboline harmala alkaloids. METHODS: Three commercially sourced harmala alkaloids were characterized and added to a non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry urine drug screening method. All analyses were performed on a Waters Xevo G2-XS LC-QTof, in positive electrospray ionization mode. The mass detector was operated in MSE mode and data processed with UNIFI™ software. A urine specimen from a patient suspected to have consumed ayahuasca was analyzed by a non-targeted drug screen. RESULTS: The harmala alkaloids: harmine, harmaline and tetrohydroharmaline (THH) were characterized and their detection data added to the toxicology screening library. Harmaline and THH were detected in the patient's urine specimen. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of the harmala alkaloids into the drug screen method library may enable the detection of ayahuasca use in patients that undergo non-targeted drug screen.