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Ayahuasca Alters Structural Parameters of the Rat Aorta

Dimítrius Leonardo Pitol, Selma Siéssere, Rafael G. Dos Santos, Maria Luíza Nunes Mamede Rosa, Jaime E. C. Hallak, Priscilla Hakime Scalize, Bruno Fiorelini Pereira, Melina Mizusaki Iyomasa, Marisa Semprini, Jordi Riba, Simone Cecílio Hallak Regalo

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology February 25, 2015 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000243 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Animal study Peer reviewed
Population Rats
Intervention Ayahuasca
Dose 2-4 mL/kg
Duration 14 days
Topics Ayahuasca
Keywords Aorta
Citations 13
Key points Chronic high-dose ayahuasca administration increased media thickness and the ratio of media thickness to lumen diameter in the rat aorta.

Abstract

Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic brew traditionally used by Northwestern Amazonian indigenous groups for therapeutic purposes. It is prepared by the decoction of Banisteriopsis caapi with the leaves of Psychotria viridis. Banisteriopsis caapi contains β-carbolines that are inhibitors of monoamine oxidase and P. viris is rich in dimethyltryptamine, a 5-HT(1A/2A/2C) agonist. Acute ayahuasca administration produces moderate cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers, but information regarding long-term use is lacking. This study investigated the effects of ayahuasca (2-4 mL/kg) in the rat aorta after acute and chronic (14 days) administration. Ayahuasca caused flattening and stretching of vascular smooth muscle cells and changes in the arrangement and distribution of collagen and elastic fibers. Chronic treatment with the higher dose significantly increased media thickness and the ratio of media thickness to lumen diameter. More research is needed on the cardiovascular function of long-term ayahuasca consumers.

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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