Pre-clinical interaction of ayahuasca, a brew used in spiritual movements, with morphine and propofol
Júlia Movilla Pires, Fúlvio Rieli Mendes, Ana Paula Salum Pires, Maurı́cio Yonamine, José Luiz Gomes Do Amaral, E.a. Carlini
Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences June 7, 2018 DOI: 10.1590/s2175-97902018000117174 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | Ayahuasca Morphine Propofol |
| Dose | 12, 120 and 1200 mg/kg |
| Topics | Ayahuasca Serotonin |
| Keywords | Propofol Morphine Pharmacology Hallucinogen Hot plate test Nociception |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca showed antinociceptive effects alone and enhanced morphine's analgesia, while it intensified propofol's depressant effect but reduced propofol-induced sleeping time. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT Ayahuasca is a beverage with psychoactive properties used in religious and ceremonial rituals by some religious groups. The main active components of ayahuasca are dimethyltryptamine and the harmala alkaloids with β-carboline structure acting as monoamine oxidase A inhibitors. This combination produces a pronounced activation of serotonergic pathways and presents potential interaction with other psychotropics. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible interactions between ayahuasca and agents employed in general anesthesia. The pharmacological interactions between ayahuasca and morphine or propofol were evaluated in mice using doses of 12, 120 and 1200 mg/kg (0.1 to 10 times the average dose consumed by humans in religious rituals). Ayahuasca alone showed an antinociceptive effect in the writhing and formalin tests, and intensified the analgesic effect of morphine in the hot plate test. Concerning the pharmacological interactions between ayahuasca and propofol, the results were opposite; ayahuasca intensified the depressant effect of propofol in the rotarod test, but decreased the sleeping time induced by propofol. These set of results showed the occurrence of some interactions between ayahuasca and the drugs morphine and propofol, possibly by both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics mechanisms.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- Ayahuasca blocks ethanol preference in an animal model of dependence and shows no acute toxicity Journal of Ethnopharmacology November 22, 2021
- The current state of ayahuasca research in animal models: A systematic review. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry July 13, 2023
- Ayahuasca and its major component harmine promote antinociceptive effects in mouse models of acute and chronic pain. Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 6, 2024
- The unpaved road of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew, as a treatment for neuropathic pain: A review of mechanistic insights and clinical prospects Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative September 14, 2024
and 2 more in the library
Cites 19
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: Tryptamine and β-carboline constituents of Ayahuasca Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1, 1984
- Clinical investigations of the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca: rationale and regulatory challenges. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
- Risk assessment of ritual use of oral dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmala alkaloids Addiction December 20, 2006
- 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 14 more in the library