Ayahuasca prevents the reinstatement of cocaine-induced rewarding effects in C57Bl/6 mice
Vítor Bruno, Lídia Emmanuela Wiazowski Spelta, Matheus Lujan Pereira, Fabiane Dörr, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara Paranhos, Fabiana Pereira Santos, Maurı́cio Yonamine, Raphael Caio Tamborelli Garcia, Larissa Helena Torres, Roberto de Pasquale, Rosana Camarini, Tânia Marcourakis
Research Square July 25, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7140966/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study |
|---|---|
| Population | C57Bl/6 mice |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Dose | 2.5, 7.5, 12.5 and 15 mg DMT/kg |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Pharmacology |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca treatment reduced cocaine-induced conditioned place preference reinstatement in mice, with its own rewarding effects being weaker than those of cocaine. |
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew used for centuries in religious rituals by indigenous cultures. Recent studies suggest its potential to reduce depression and anxiety and as an alternative for treating ethanol and tobacco use disorders. However, research on its impact on cocaine use disorder remains limited. We investigated the effects of ayahuasca on the reinstatement of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in C57Bl/6 mice. First, we examined if ayahuasca (2.5, 7.5, 12.5 and 15 mg DMT/kg, gavage) could induce CPP. Next, using a choice-based CPP paradigm, we compared the rewarding effects of cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) with a previously established rewarding dose of ayahuasca (15 mg DMT/kg). Finally, we employed a cocaine-induced reinstatement protocol to assess the potential of ayahuasca to prevent the drug-associated contextual preference reactivation. Therefore, mice were conditioned with cocaine and subsequently treated with water or ayahuasca (12.5 or 15 mg DMT/kg). Following a cocaine challenge, reinstatement of cocaine-induced CPP was evaluated. Our findings showed that while ayahuasca induced rewarding effects with the higher dose tested, these were less pronounced than those of cocaine. Moreover, ayahuasca treatment effectively reduced cocaine-induced CPP reinstatement. These findings highlight the therapeutic value of ayahuasca in the context of cocaine use disorder.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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and 23 more in the library