Anti-inflammatory activity of ayahuasca: therapeutical implications in neurological and psychiatric diseases
Marina Goulart Da Silva, Guilherme Cabreira Daros, Rafael Mariano de Bitencourt
Behavioural Brain Research November 6, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Neuroinflammation Monoamine oxidase Pharmacology Population |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca is a promising and very safe therapeutic strategy for neurological and psychiatric diseases due to its anti-inflammatory action via dimethyltryptamines and sigma-1 receptors, though further studies are needed. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a decoction with psychoactive properties, used for millennia for therapeutic and religious purposes by indigenous groups and the population of amazonian countries. As described in this narrative review, it is essentially constituted by β-carbolines and tryptamines, and it has therapeutic effects on behavioral disorders due to the inhibition of the monoamine oxidase enzyme and the activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, demonstrated through preclinical and clinical studies. It was recently observed that the pharmacological response presented by ayahuasca is linked to its anti-inflammatory action, attributed mainly to dimethyltryptamines (N, N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine), which act as endogenous systemic regulators of inflammation and immune homeostasis, also through sigma-1 receptors. Therefore, since neuroinflammation is among the main pathophysiological mechanisms related to the development of neurological and psychiatric diseases, we suggest, based on the available evidence, that ayahuasca is a promising and very safe therapeutic strategy since extremely high doses are required to reach toxicity. However, even so, additional studies are needed to confirm such evidence, as well as the complete elucidation of the mechanisms involved.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Psychedelic-inspired approaches for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Journal of Neurochemistry July 1, 2022
- Ayahuasca and Public Health II: Health Status in a Large Sample of Ayahuasca-Ceremony Participants in the Netherlands Journal of Psychoactive Drugs May 28, 2022
- Components of Banisteriopsis caapi, a Plant Used in the Preparation of the Psychoactive Ayahuasca, Induce Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Microglial Cells Molecules April 13, 2022
- Antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects of ayahuasca in rats subjected to LPS-induced neuroinflammation Behavioural Brain Research July 14, 2022
- Beyond the Psychoactive Effects of Ayahuasca: Cultural and Pharmacological Relevance of Its Emetic and Purging Properties. Planta Medica November 1, 2022
and 9 more in the library
Cites 38
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator Science February 13, 2009
- Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology December 11, 2015
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: Tryptamine and β-carboline constituents of Ayahuasca Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1, 1984
and 33 more in the library