Behavioral profile of constituents in ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychoactive plant mixture
Cory S. Freedland, Robert S. Mansbach
Drug and Alcohol Dependence May 1, 1999 DOI: 10.1016/s0376-8716(98)00154-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | harmine B. caapi extract DMT |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Harmine Prepulse inhibition Hallucinogen Traditional medicine Alkaloid Pharmacology Herb |
| Citations | 51 |
| Key findings | The behavioral effects of Banisteriopsis caapi in mice may be attributed largely to its principal alkaloid harmine and related beta-carbolines. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant mixture typically composed of the beta-carboline-rich Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the hallucinogenic plant Psychotria viridis. Ayahuasca has long been used by aboriginal populations for its putative spiritual and medicinal benefits. Although the presumed primary chemical constituents of ayahuasca have been identified, little is known about the basic in vivo pharmacology of the extract. Two principal constituents of ayahuasca, the beta-carboline harmine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were selected for detailed study in mice using the Functional Observational Battery (FOB). The B. caapi extract was then examined alone and in combination with DMT. Harmine and the B. caapi extract produced similar effects in the FOB, particularly in the open field. Clonic and tonic motor movements were augmented by DMT administration. Harmine and B. caapi decreased acoustic startle amplitude without significantly affecting prepulse inhibition. DMT appeared to attenuate startle-decreasing effects of harmine and B. caapi, although these effects fell just short of significance. These results suggest that the behavioral effects of B. caapi in mice may be attributed in large part to its principal alkaloid species, harmine, and related beta-carbolines in the extract. Hence, the presence of the banisteriopsis vine in the admixture may directly contribute to the unique subjective effects of ayahuasca.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 20
- Ayahuasca: Psychological and Physiologic Effects, Pharmacology and Potential Uses in Addiction and Mental Illness Current Neuropharmacology March 2, 2018
- Developments in harmine pharmacology — Implications for ayahuasca use and drug-dependence treatment Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry June 10, 2012
- Effect of Hallucinogens on Unconditioned Behavior Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2016
- Behavioural and neurotoxic effects of ayahuasca infusion (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) in female Wistar rat Behavioural Processes June 6, 2015
- Interaction of psychoactive tryptamines with biogenic amine transporters and serotonin receptor subtypes. Psychopharmacology October 1, 2014
and 15 more in the library
Cites 10
- Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry February 1, 1994
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: Tryptamine and β-carboline constituents of Ayahuasca Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1, 1984
- Human Psychopharmacology of Hoasca, A Plant Hallucinogen Used in Ritual Context in Brazil The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease February 1, 1996
- Differential tolerance to biological and subjective effects of four closely spaced doses of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans Biological Psychiatry May 1, 1996
- Platelet serotonin uptake sites increased in drinkers ofayahuasca Psychopharmacology November 1, 1994
and 5 more in the library