Effects of Ayahuasca and its Alkaloids on Drug Dependence: A Systematic Literature Review of Quantitative Studies in Animals and Humans
Amanda Amorin Nunes, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Flávia de Lima Osório, Rafael Faria Sanches, José Alexandre S. Crippa, Jaime E. C. Hallak
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs May 26, 2016 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2016.1188225 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction Ayahuasca Cannabis |
| Keywords | Harmine Harmaline Hallucinogen Mood Pharmacology Drug Peganum harmala |
| Citations | 92 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca or its components improved addiction-related outcomes in animal studies and reduced dependence symptoms or substance use in four of five observational human studies. |
Abstract
Recently, the anti-addictive potential of ayahuasca, a dimethyltryptamine(DMT)- and β-carboline-rich hallucinogenic beverage traditionally used by indigenous groups of the Northwest Amazon and currently by syncretic churches worldwide, has received increased attention. To better evaluate this topic, we performed a systematic literature review using the PubMed database to find quantitative studies (using statistical analysis) that assessed the effects of ayahuasca or its components in drug-related symptoms or disorders. We found five animal studies (using harmaline, harmine, or ayahuasca) and five observational studies of regular ayahuasca consumers. All animal studies showed improvement of biochemical or behavioral parameters related to drug-induced disorders. Of the five human studies, four reported significant reductions of dependence symptoms or substance use, while one did not report significant results. The mechanisms responsible for the anti-addictive properties of ayahuasca and its alkaloids are not clarified, apparently involving both peripheral MAO-A inhibition by the β-carbolines and central agonism of DMT at 5-HT2A receptors expressed in brain regions related to the regulation of mood and emotions. Although results are promising, controlled studies are needed to replicate these preliminary findings.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Ayahuasca or its components improved addiction-related outcomes in animal studies and reduced dependence symptoms or substance use in four of five observational human studies.
Synthesized
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Ayahuasca or its components improved addiction-related outcomes in all five animal studies, and four of five observational human studies reported significant reductions in dependence symptoms or substance use.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ayahuasca for addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of ayahuasca and its alkaloids on substance use disorders: an updated (2016-2020) systematic review of preclinical and human studies. Rodents and humans (healthy ritual ayahuasca users and patients with substance use... | 2022 | Systematic review | n = 9 |
| Psychedelic Treatments for Substance Use Disorder and Substance Misuse: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Adults with substance use disorder or substance misuse | 2023 | Systematic review | |
| [Efficacy of psychedelics in psychiatry, a systematic review of the literature]. Patients with psychiatric conditions (anxiety, depression, major depressive disorder,... | 2021 | Systematic review | n = 25 |
| The current state of ayahuasca research in animal models: A systematic review. Rodents, primates, and zebrafish | 2023 | Systematic review | n = 32 |
| The therapeutic effects of psychedelics for opioid use disorder: A systematic review of clinical studies. | 2025 | Systematic review |