Immunological Modulation and Control of Parasitaemia by Ayahuasca Compounds: Therapeutic Potential for Chagas's Disease
Albert Katchborian‐neto, Mário F. C. Santos, Diego Fernandes Vilas Boas, Elda Gonçalves Dos Santos, Márcia Paranho Veloso, Paula Carolina Pires Bueno, Ivo Santana Caldas, Marisi G. Soares, Danielle Ferreira Dias, Daniela Aparecida Chagas‐paula
Chemistry & Biodiversity September 26, 2022 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202200409 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | In vitro and in vivo experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and infected mice |
| Interventions | Ayahuasca harmine DMT benznidazole |
| Dose | 10 and 100 mg/kg |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | In vivo Pharmacology Alkaloid Chagas disease Benznidazole Trypanosoma cruzi Harmine Ic50 Drug Traditional medicine In vitro |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Harmine isolated from Banisteriopsis caapi showed the highest trypanocidal activity in a dose-responsive manner without toxicity, while ayahuasca and the harmine-DMT combination worsened parasitemia, indicating immune modulation. |
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca is a psychoactive and psychedelic decoct composed mainly of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis plant species. The beverage is rich in alkaloids and it is ritualistically used by several indigenous communities of South America as a natural medicine. There are also reports in the literature indicating the prophylaxis potential of Ayahuasca alkaloids against internal parasites. In the present study, Ayahuasca exhibited moderate in vitro activity against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes (IC 50 95.78 μg/mL) compared to the reference drug benznidazole (IC 50 2.03 μg/mL). The β‐carboline alkaloid harmine (HRE), isolated from B. caapi , was considered active against the trypomastigotes forms (IC 50 6.37), and the tryptamine N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine (DMT), isolated from P. viridis was also moderately active with IC 50 of 21.02 μg/mL. Regarding the in vivo evaluations, no collateral effects were observed. The HRE alone demonstrated the highest trypanocidal activity in a dose‐responsive manner (10 and 100 mg/kg). The Ayahuasca and the association between HRE and DMT worsened the parasitaemia, suggesting a modulation of the immunological response during the T. cruzi infection, especially by increasing total Immunoglobulin (IgG) and IgG1 antibody levels. The in silico molecular docking revealed HRE binding with low energy at two sites of the Trypanothione reductase enzyme (TR), which are absent in humans, and thus considered a promissory target for drug discovery. In conclusion, Ayahuasca compounds seem to not be toxic at the concentrations of the in vivo evaluations and can promote trypanocidal effect in multi targets, including control of parasitaemia, immunological modulation and TR enzymatic inhibition, which might benefit the treatments of patients with Chagas’ disease. Moreover, the present study also provides scientific information to support the prophylactic potential of Ayahuasca against internal parasites.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Ayahuasca in the treatment of bipolar disorder with psychotic features–A retrospective case study March 10, 2023
- Dimethyltryptamine and harmine, components of ayahuasca, prevented cocaine-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells Archives of Toxicology November 12, 2025
- Ayahuasca revisited. Case studies & observations June 9, 2025
- The Role of Ayahuasca in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Survival, Proliferation and Oxidative Stress. Pharmaceuticals June 2, 2024
Cites 12
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and 7 more in the library