Stability Evaluation of DMT and Harmala Alkaloids in Ayahuasca Tea Samples
Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Felipe Rebello Lourenço, Giordano Novak Rossi, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Maurı́cio Yonamine
Molecules April 29, 2020 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25092072 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Ayahuasca tea samples |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca tea |
| Duration | One year (refrigerator storage), seven days at 37 °C, three freeze-thaw cycles |
| Topics | Ayahuasca DMT |
| Keywords | Harmine Harmaline Peganum harmala Alkaloid Context archaeology Chromatography Traditional medicine Pharmacology Organic chemistry |
| Citations | 36 |
| Key findings | DMT remained stable under all tested conditions, while harmala alkaloids showed significant degradation and concentration changes, indicating the need for pre-administration quantification. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca tea is a hallucinogenic beverage used for religious purposes in Brazil and many other countries that has therapeutic potential in the treatment of some mental health disorders. In the context of psychedelic research, quantification of the tea’s main alkaloids prior to its administration in animal or human studies is essential. For this reason, this study aims to provide information regarding the stability of the main ayahuasca alkaloids (dimethyltryptamine, DMT; harmine, HRM; tetrahydroharmine, THH; harmaline, HRL) in three different conditions: (1) A year stored in a refrigerator either in plastic or glass containers, (2) seven days at 37 °C to reproduce usual mail transportation, and (3) after three freeze–thaw cycles. Samples were quantified after a dilute-and-shoot procedure using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). There was no significant degradation of DMT concentration over time in all tested conditions. Harmala alkaloids (THH, HRL, and HRM) showed important variations after long-term and high-temperature storages. Although DMT has proven to be stable in all studied conditions, the harmala alkaloids revealed intense degradation and even concentration increment. This may be caused by degradation, alkaloid inter-conversion, and leaching from tea precipitate material. Therefore, ayahuasca quantification before administration in controlled sets is mandatory.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on DMT, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short term changes in the proteome of human cerebral organoids induced by 5-MeO-DMT. Human cerebral organoids | 2017 | Experimental study | |
| Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment Volunteers | 2019 | Within-subjects experimental study | n = 11 |
| Metabolism and disposition of N,N‐dimethyltryptamine and harmala alkaloids after oral administration of ayahuasca Healthy male volunteers | 2012 | Observational pharmacokinetic study | n = 10 |
| Unmasking of a neonatal somatovesical reflex in adult cats by the serotonin autoreceptor agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Adult cats | 1990 | Experimental study | n = 10 |
| Studies on the Mechanism of Action of Monoamine Oxidase: Metabolism of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine and N,N-Dimethyltryptamine-N-Oxide | 1962 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 27
- Ayahuasca Improves Self-perception of Speech Performance in Subjects With Social Anxiety Disorder Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology June 23, 2021
- Administration of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in psychedelic therapeutics and research and the study of endogenous DMT Psychopharmacology January 22, 2022
- Effects of Ayahuasca on the Recognition of Facial Expressions of Emotions in Naive Healthy Volunteers Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology April 13, 2021
- N,N‐dimethyltryptamine and Amazonian ayahuasca plant medicine Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental February 17, 2022
- Ayahuasca, a psychedelic beverage, modulates neuroplasticity induced by ethanol in mice Behavioural Brain Research August 23, 2021
and 22 more in the library
Cites 23
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study PLoS One August 8, 2012
- Clinical investigations of the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca: rationale and regulatory challenges. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
- The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization. Frontiers in Pharmacology March 2, 2016
- Ayahuasca: Pharmacology, neuroscience and therapeutic potential Brain Research Bulletin March 11, 2016
and 18 more in the library