Ayahuasca: Uses, Phytochemical and Biological Activities
Edgar Antonio Estrella-Parra, Julio Cesar Almanza-Pérez, Francisco Javier Alarcón-aguilar
Natural Products and Bioprospecting May 27, 2019 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-019-0210-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Amazon rainforest Phytochemical Hallucinogen Psychoactive substance Traditional medicine Pharmacology |
| Citations | 57 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca contains β-carbolines and dimethyltryptamines that inhibit monoamine oxidase and activate the 5-HT2A receptor, resulting in hallucinations and a psychedelic change in the anteroposterior coupling of electrophysiological brain oscillations in humans. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca (caapi, yajé), is a psychoactive brew from the Amazon Basin region of South America traditionally considered a "master plant." It is prepared as a decoction from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, which it is thought that it stimulates creative thinking and visual creativity. Native healers of the Orinoco and Amazon basins have used traditionally ayahuasca as a healing tool for multiple purposes, particularly to treat psychological disorders in the patients, with some beneficial effects experimentally and clinically validated. Recently, several syncretic religions, as the "União de Vegetal" (UDV) group in Brazil, have been spread around the world. The use of ayahuasca has been popularized by internet and smart-shops, bringing the psychoactive substance to new highs, emerging new "ayahuasqueros." Ayahuasca has alkaloids as β-carbolines and dimethyltryptamines, which inhibit the monoamine oxidase and active the 5-HT2A (5-hydroxytryptamine) receptor, respectively, resulting in hallucinations in the users. Ayahuasca induces a psychedelic change in the anteroposterior coupling of the electrophysiological brain oscillations in humans. Traditional ayahuasca beverage is generating pharmacological, commercial and spiritual interest among the scientific community, government people, and different populations worldwide. The goal of this article is to report about the uses, chemistry and biological activities of ayahuasca.
Comparable studies
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Citations in the library
Cited by 46
- Simultaneous Production of Psilocybin and a Cocktail of β‐Carboline Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors in “Magic” Mushrooms Chemistry - A European Journal November 14, 2019
- Neuroprotective potential of Ayahuasca and untargeted metabolomics analyses: applicability to Parkinson's disease. Journal of Ethnopharmacology June 12, 2020
- Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- Taking Different Roads: l‐Tryptophan as the Origin of Psilocybe Natural Products ChemPlusChem October 1, 2020
- The ritual use of ayahuasca during treatment of severe physical illnesses: a qualitative study Journal of Psychoactive Drugs December 7, 2020
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Cites 107
- Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry March 1, 2015
- The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network PLoS One February 18, 2015
- Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and Cardiovascular Effects, Monoamine Metabolite Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 18, 2003
- Human Psychopharmacology of Hoasca, A Plant Hallucinogen Used in Ritual Context in Brazil The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease February 1, 1996
- Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study PLoS One August 8, 2012
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