EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF THE USE OF AYAHUASCA BY DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS
Revista Contemporânea September 5, 2023 Catarina Rodrigues Damasceno Murucci, Rita de Cássia Ramos Queiroz de Freitas, Grazielly Ribeiro Viana et al.
Ayahuasca, a tea used in indigenous rituals, contains DMT from Psychotria viridis leaves (0.1% to 0.6%), which acts as an agonist at 5-HT2A receptors, and β-carboline alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine) from Banisteriopsis caapi that inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO). Some studies suggest it may be a potent antidepressant with fewer side effects than conventional treatments, but research on its neurotoxic and therapeutic potential remains limited, similar to challenges faced with Cannabis sativa. Further investigation into safe parameters is needed before it can serve depressive patients.