Dimethyltryptamine: Endogenous Role and Therapeutic Potential
Alexandra Vsl Rodrigues, Francisco Almeida, Maria Augusta Vieira‐coelho
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs April 25, 2019 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2019.1602291 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Humans |
| Topics | Anxiety Ayahuasca 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Depression economics Pharmacology |
| Citations | 30 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca shows promising results for anxiety, depression, and substance dependence, though the role of endogenous DMT remains unclear. |
Abstract
N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an indole alkaloid produced by a number of plants and animals, including humans. Its psychoactive effects were first described in 1956 by Stephen Szára, but have been exploited for centuries by South American indigenous populations in the form of ayahuasca. In the present review, we assess the state of the art regarding a putative role for endogenous DMT and potential clinical applications of ayahuasca and DMT. A review assessing the pharmacological profile of DMT and its clinical effects in humans was performed using the PubMed data base until 5 August 2018 with the words: ayahuasca and N,N-dimethyltryptamine. While the role of endogenous DMT remains unclear, ayahuasca has promising results in anxiety, depression and substance dependence. Since ayahuasca has a good safety profile, it is crucial to conduct further research aimed at developing new treatments for psychiatric disorders.