Forensic Science International
June 1, 2025
Ana Y. Simão, P Y Tokuyama, G Zampieri et al.
1 citation
In this study, over 900 hair samples from individuals using drugs of abuse in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil were analysed for classical drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) in hair samples. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods were developed for the detection of some drugs (25B-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, 25E-NBOH, 2C-C, 2C-I, 3,4-MDPHP, 3-MeO-PCP,...
Phytochemical analysis : PCA
August 1, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, Tiago Rosado, Mário Barroso et al.
2 citations
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive drink originally consumed by indigenous people of the Amazon. The lack of regulation of this drink leads to uncontrolled consumption, and it is often consumed in religious contexts. The aim of this work is to compare three miniaturised extraction techniques for extracting the main ayahuasca compounds from beverages. Three sample pretreatment techniques were evaluated...
Micromachines
July 30, 2024
Rodrigo Pelixo, Mário Barroso, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
1 citation
Arylcyclohexylamine (ACH) compounds represent a predominant faction within new psychoactive substances. Due to their powerful dissociative effects, they are used in recreational contexts but also in situations of drug-facilitated sexual assault, and therefore, they are a constant target of analysis by forensic experts. In recent years, their consumption has been notably high, especially the use...
Natural Product Research
July 4, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, José Francisco Cascalheira, Patrícia Valentão et al.
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage native to the Amazon, originally derived from Banisteriopsis caapi stem scrapings and Psychotria viridis leaves, exhibits hallucinogenic properties due to N,N-dimethyltryptamine. When combined with β-carbolines, it enters the bloodstream and central nervous system, inhibiting monoamine oxidase-A. Over time, therapeutic effects have been associated to ayahuasca...
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
June 2, 2024
Joana Gonçalves, Mariana Feijó, Sílvia Socorro et al.
The psychedelic beverage ayahuasca is originally obtained by Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) (BC) and Psychotria viridis (P. viridis) (PV). However, sometimes these plant species are replaced by others that mimic the original effects, such as Mimosa hostilis (M. hostilis) (MH) and Peganum harmala (P. harmala) (PH). Its worldwide consumption and the number of studies on its potential therapeutic...
Life
November 8, 2023
Bruno Pires, Luana M. Rosendo, Ana Teresa Brinca et al.
15 citations
This review delves into the therapeutic applications of amphetamine-type stimulants such as lisdexamphetamine dimesylate, mixed amphetamine salts, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), dextroamphetamine, and phentermine. These compounds have been investigated for their potential in treating a range of psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), drug...
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
July 7, 2023
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
16 citations
Traditional therapies, resorting to the use of plants, have acquired a great demand over the years, both for economic reasons and the preference for natural treatments. Some studies suggest that ayahuasca may have beneficial properties in treating some physical and psychological imbalances. Thus, we carried out a systematic review of studies published up to December 2022, where these themes...
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
September 6, 2022
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
5 citations
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian drink, which contains β-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing potential of decoctions of a commercial mixture, four individual plants and four mixtures of two plants used in the ayahuasca preparation. Thus, the cytotoxic potential of the samples was evaluated and a wound-healing assay was performed with a NHDF...
Molecules
September 13, 2021
Joana Gonçalves, Miguel Castilho, Tiago Rosado et al.
9 citations
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage that contains the psychoactive compound N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carboline alkaloids. This study aims at determining in vitro the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of the main compounds present in decoctions of four individual plants, in a commercial mixture and in four mixtures of two individual plants used in the preparation of Ayahuasca. The...
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
March 5, 2021
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
39 citations
The consumption of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) has been increasing, and this problem affects several countries worldwide. There is a class of NPSs of natural origin, consisting of plants and fungi, which have a wide range of alkaloids, responsible for causing relaxing, stimulating or hallucinogenic effects. The consumption of some of these substances is prompted by religious beliefs and...
Molecules
February 26, 2021
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Ana Gradillas et al.
correction
This paper [...]
Molecules
November 28, 2020
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Ana Gradillas et al.
19 citations
Ayahuasca is a beverage consumed at shamanic ceremonies and currently has gained popularity on recreational scenarios. It contains beta-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which possesses hallucinogenic effects. Only a few studies have elicited the psychoactive effects and the dose of such compounds on neurological dopaminergic cells or animals. In this work, we aimed to study the...
Antibiotics
October 24, 2020
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Ana Gradillas et al.
25 citations
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage, originally consumed by indigenous Amazon tribes, of which consumption has been increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile, as well as the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of decoctions of four individual plants, a commercial mixture and four mixtures of two individual plants used in the...
Biomedicines
September 5, 2020
Ana Sofia Vargas, Ângelo Luís, Mário Barroso et al.
121 citations
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine known for its psychedelic properties. Recent research indicates that psilocybin may constitute a valid approach to treat depression and anxiety associated to life-threatening diseases. The aim of this work was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of clinical trials to assess the therapeutic effects and safety of psilocybin on those...
Medicines
October 18, 2019
Ana Y. Simão, Joana Gonçalves, Ana Paula Duarte et al.
36 citations
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage prepared traditionally from a mixture of the leaves and stems of Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi, respectively, being originally consumed by indigenous Amazonian tribes for ritual and medicinal purposes. Over the years, its use has spread to other populations as a means to personal growth and spiritual connection. Also, the recreational use of...
Phytochemistry
May 1, 2017
André Cruz, Sara Domingos, Eugenia Gallardo et al.
44 citations
Until the mid-60s, only the Mazatecs, an indigenous group from Oaxaca, Mexico, used Salvia Divinorum (S. divinorum) due to its hallucinogen properties. Later it was found that the hallucinogen effects of this plant were caused by the presence of a neoclerodane diterpene Salvinorin A (salvinorin A), which is a highly selective agonist of kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) that cause more intense...
Bioanalysis
July 1, 2016
Cláudia Margalho, Francisco Corte Real, Manuel López-rivadulla et al.
The identification and quantitation of the main psychoactive component of Salvia divinorum (salvinorin A) in biological specimens are crucial in forensic and clinical toxicology. Despite all the efforts made, its uncontrolled abuse has increased quickly, exposing its users' health to serious risks both in the short and long term. The use of alternative biological matrices in toxicological...
Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
May 1, 2016
Cláudia Margalho, Alice Castanheira, Francisco Corte Real et al.
33 citations
Despite worldwide efforts aiming to ban the marketing and subsequent abuse of psychoactive substances such as synthetic cathinones and phenethylamines, there has been an alarming growth of both in recent years. Different compounds similar to those already existing are continuously appearing in the market in order to circumvent the legislation. An analytical methodology has been validated for...
Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
2016
Ana Martinho, Sara M Silva, Eugenia Gallardo
S. divinorum is a psychoactive plant that has been consumed as a recreational drug of abuse in the last years. Salvinorin A is its main constituent, and is responsible for the observed psychoactive effects. Both S. divinorum and salvinorin A have become controlled drugs in several countries, but they are not listed in the Schedules of the United Nations Drug Conventions. Regarding the effects...