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Exposure to ayahuasca induces developmental and behavioral alterations on early life stages of zebrafish

Thayres S. Andrade, Rhaul Oliveira, Muriel Lopes Da Silva, Marcus Vinicius von Zuben, César Koppe Grisólia, Inês Domingues, Eloísa Dutra Caldas, Aline Pic‐taylor

Chemico-Biological Interactions August 4, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.08.001 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Population Zebrafish embryos and larvae
Intervention Ayahuasca
Dose 0 to 1000 mg/L
Duration 96 h for toxicity and developmental endpoints; 120 and 144 h for locomotor activity
Topics Ayahuasca
Keywords Zebrafish Hatching Embryo Developmental toxicity Pharmacology
Citations 31
Key findings Ayahuasca exposure caused developmental anomalies and decreased locomotor activity in zebrafish at high concentrations.

Abstract

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive concoction prepared from the plants Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis which are used ancestrally by Amazonian Indian populations and more recently, by Christian religious groups in Brazil and other countries. The aims of the present study were to identify the effects of ayahuasca on zebrafish embryo development and neurobehavior. Toxicity and developmental endpoints for zebrafish embryos were assessed from 0 to 1000 mg/L over 96 h of exposure. The effects on locomotor activity of zebrafish larvae were assessed using a video tracking system (ZebraBox) from 0 to 20 mg/L and after 120 and 144 h of exposure. The LC50 of ayahuasca in zebrafish was determined as 236.3 mg/L. Ayahuasca exposure caused significant developmental anomalies in zebrafish embryos, mainly at the highest concentration tested, including hatching delay, loss of equilibrium, edema and the accumulation of red blood cells. Embryo behavior was also significantly affected, with decreased locomotor activity at the highest concentration tested. These results are in accordance with data obtained in mammal studies highlighting the possible risks of uncontrolled use of ayahuasca. Further research employing more specific behavior analysis could provide additional data on both therapeutic benefits and possible toxicological risk of ayahuasca.

Comparable studies

Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: Tryptamine and β-carboline constituents of Ayahuasca Eight ayahuasca samples from Peru and several Banisteriopsis caapi cultivars 1984 Qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis with in vitro assay
The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro Progenitor cells from subventricular and subgranular zones of adult mice brains 2017 In vitro experimental study
N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo Mice 2020 In vitro and in vivo experimental study
Behavioural and neurotoxic effects of ayahuasca infusion (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) in female Wistar rat Female Wistar rats 2015 Observational cohort
Effects of ayahuasca on the development of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and on a post-sensitization treatment in mice Mice 2015 Experimental study

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