A rapid and simple method for the determination of psychoactive alkaloids by CE‐UV: application to Peganum Harmala seed infusions

The β-carboline alkaloids of the harmala group (HAlks), found in plants like Peganum harmala (Syrian rue) and Banisteriopsis caapi, act as reversible monoamine oxidase type A inhibitors (MAOIs). Their levels in natural sources vary greatly, limiting clinical use and leading to recreational or ritual use, such as in Ayahuasca. This work presents a fast, simple, and robust method using capillary electrophoresis with UV detection to simultaneously quantify six common HAlks: harmine, harmaline, harmol, harmalol, harmane, and norharmane. The method was applied to analyze P. harmala seed infusion, detecting harmaline, harmine, and harmol. Validation across three instruments showed transferability and comparable performance.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The β‐carboline alkaloids of the harmala (HAlks) group are compounds widely spread in many natural sources, but found at relatively high levels in some specific plants like Peganum harmala ( Syrian rue ) or Banisteriopsis caapi . HAlks are a reversible Mono Amino Oxidase type A Inhibitor (MAOI) and, as a consequence, these plants or their extracts can be used to produce psychotropic effects when are combined with psychotropic drugs based on amino groups. Since the occurrence and the levels of the HAlks in natural sources are subject to significant variability, more widespread use is not clinical but recreational or ritual, for example B . caapi is a known part of the Ayahuasca ritual mixture. The lack of simple methods to control the variable levels of these compounds in natural sources restricts the possibilities to dose in strict quantities and, as a consequence, limits its use with pharmacological or clinical purposes. In this work, we present a fast, simple, and robust method of quantifying simultaneously the six HAlks more frequently found in plants, i.e., harmine, harmaline, harmol, harmalol, harmane, and norharmane, by capillary electrophoresis instruments equipped with the more common detector UV. The method is applied to analyze these HAlks in P . Harmala seeds infusion which is a frequent intake form for these HAlks. The method is validated in three different instruments in order to evaluate the transferability and to compare the performances between them. In this case, harmaline, harmine, and harmol were found in the infusion samples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.