Banisteriopsis Species: A Source of Bioactive of Potential Medical Application
International Journal of Biotechnology for Wellness Industries 2012 DOI: 10.6000/1927-3037/2012.01.03.02 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Computational biology Biochemical engineering |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Banisteriopsis species produce β-carboline alkaloids and other metabolites with antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, and antianxiety activities, supporting their traditional use and pharmaceutical potential. |
Abstract
In recent years, interest in further development of herbal or botanical drug products derived from traditional preparations has been increasing steadily. Plants have been used for thousands of years to treat health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics. Several research works have been developed to search for new natural products to be used in pharmaceutical products. Active compounds produced during secondary metabolism are responsible for the biological properties of the plant species and may be used to most diverse purposes, including treatment of several diseases. Banisteriopsis species has been described showing interesting activities by its use in popular medicine. The mainly use was described to production of the Ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychotropic plant tea obtained from Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains � -carboline alkaloids, mainly harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine. Other species of Banisteriopsis genus have been described with biological metabolites as antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, antianxiety and others. These biological activities were described chiefly by the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins. Thus, to stimulate the study into the Banisteriopsis genus, the purpose of the present review is to gather information on the use of the extracts and metabolites of Banisteriopsis species (Malpighiaceae) as a resource to diseases treatment or to pharmaceutical purposes.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Infoveillance and Critical Analysis of the Systematically Reviewed Literature on Dimethyltryptamine and the "God Molecule". Pharmaceuticals June 2, 2023
- The mitogenomic landscape of Banisteriopsis caapi (Malpighiaceae), the sacred liana used for ayahuasca preparation. Genetics and molecular biology 2024
- Dated Phylogeny of Banisteriopsis (Malpighiaceae) Suggests an Ancient Colonization of the Cerrado and No Evidence of Human Manipulation in the Origin of B. caapi. Plants April 7, 2025
Cites 7
- 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
- Effects of ayahuasca on psychometric measures of anxiety, panic-like and hopelessness in Santo Daime members Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 26, 2007
- Ayahoasca: an experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 1, 1999
- Reassessing the cultural and psychopharmacological significance of Banisteriopsis caapi: preparation, classification and use among the Piaroa of Southern Venezuela. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 1, 2008
and 2 more in the library