Ayahuasca reverses ischemic stroke-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
Larissa da Silva Joaquim, Lara Rodrigues da Rosa, Yasmin Strickert, Richard Simon Machado, Everton Lanzzarin, Gabriela Bernardes, Suelen de Souza Ramos, Linério Ribeiro de Novais, Beatriz Steiner, Brenno Farias, Khiany Mathias, Helena Mafra Martins, Elisa Mitkus Flores Lins, Jéssica Schaefer Chaves, Douglas Camilo, Larissa Espindola da Silva, Mariana Pacheco de Oliveira, Mariella Reinol da Silva, Pablo Michel Pereira Barcelos, Fabiana Pereira Santos, Franciane Bobinski, Gislaine Tezza Rezin, Mauricio Yonamine, Antonio Inserra, Fabricia Petronilho, Rafael Mariano de Bitencourt
Behavioural Brain Research May 8, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115521 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Wistar rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion model of ischemic stroke |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Dose | 2 and 4 mL/kg |
| Duration | 3-day treatment, 72-hour post-stroke assessment |
| Topics | Ayahuasca DMT |
| Keywords | Ischemic stroke Neuroinflammation Neuroprotection Oxidative stress #ayahuasca traditional medicine Psychedelic brew #neuroprotectiveagents brain protection Neural defense #ischemicstroke brain ischemia |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca treatment after ischemic stroke reduced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in specific brain regions but did not improve neurological or behavioral outcomes. |
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Survivors face disability and psychiatric sequelae resulting from ischemia-induced cell death and associated neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Herbal medicines have been shown to elicit neuroprotective effects following stroke due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Preliminary evidence suggests that Ayahuasca (AYA), a decoction made from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi containing β-carbolines and the shrub Psychotria viridis containing N, N-Dimethyltryptamine, might attenuate ischemia-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, in this study we investigated the putative protective effects of AYA in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of ischemic stroke. Wistar rats were subjected to the MCAO stroke model or sham surgery on day 0. After 24-h, rats were treated for three days with AYA (2 and 4 mL/kg, gavage) or saline. Neurological score was assessed for 72-h post-stroke. Rats were tested in the elevated plus maze, open field, and novel object recognition tests to assess locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, and recognition memory. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the nitrite/nitrate (N/N) concentrations were determined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HPC), hypothalamus (HYP) and cortex. as markers of inflammation. Oxidative stress was quantified in the same brain areas as measured by the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), protein carbonylation, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity. Mitochondrial metabolism was assessed quantifying the activity of complex 1(CI), CII, citrate synthase (CS), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and creatine kinase (CK). No differences were observed regarding neurological deficits, locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, and recognition memory. However, AYA reversed the stroke-induced increase in IL-6 levels in the PFC and the HPC, IL-10 in the PFC, HPC, and HYP, MPO activity in the PFC, and N/N concentration and CAT activity in the HYP. Moreover, AYA decreased TBARS levels in the PFC and HPC and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the PFC, and increased SOD activity in the cortex. Lastly, AYA increased CI activity in the HPC and cortex and decreased SDH and CK activity in the HPC. AYA administration following ischemic stroke modulates oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the PFC, HPC, and HYP. Despite no significant improvements in neurological or behavioral scores, these molecular changes suggest a neuroprotective role of AYA. Future studies should explore the timing of AYA treatment and putative long-term effects on functional recovery, as well as its potential in other brain regions critical for cognitive and motor functions.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Single-dose DMT reverses anhedonia and cognitive deficits via restoration of neurogenesis in a stress-induced depression model. Translational Psychiatry January 29, 2026
- Single Ayahuasca administration attenuates alcohol relapse and associated behavioral, neurochemical, and oxidative alterations in rats Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry July 1, 2026
- Single exposure to Ayahuasca reverses chronic stress effects on sociability, anxiety, cortisol, and BDNF in zebrafish Psychopharmacology April 14, 2026
- Pretreatment with the psychedelic DOI mitigates LPS-induced hippocampal inflammation and behavioral impairments in mice BMC Neuroscience March 24, 2026
- Are psychedelics anti-inflammatory? A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the immunomodulatory effects of serotonergic psychedelics. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity September 28, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 14
- Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial Psychological Medicine June 15, 2018
- The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator Science February 13, 2009
- Ayahuasca: Pharmacology, neuroscience and therapeutic potential Brain Research Bulletin March 11, 2016
- Psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine modulate innate and adaptive inflammatory responses through the sigma-1 receptor of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. PLoS One 2014
- N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo Translational Psychiatry September 28, 2020
and 9 more in the library