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Ayahuasca
Published in Mahendra Rai, Shandesh Bhattarai, Chistiane M. Feitosa, Wild Plants, 2020
Raquel Consul, Flávia Lucas, Maria Graça Campos
Through the phytochemical analysis of 33 samples of dry material of B. caapi stems, it was observed that the harmine composition can vary between 0.31 and 8.43 mg/g, harmaline presents values between 0.03 and 0.83 mg/g, and THH can vary between 0.05 and 2.94 mg/g. Harmine and harmaline composition is uniformly proportional in a 1:10 ratio. THH has a more variable distribution and is not clearly related to the other two β-carbolines. It was also found that the lowest values presented correspond to older plants, whereby plant age is also a factor which influences alkaloid biosynthesis, as already referenced (Callaway et al. 2005).
Medicinal Plants of Central Asia
Published in Raymond Cooper, Jeffrey John Deakin, Natural Products of Silk Road Plants, 2020
Farukh S. Sharopov, William N. Setzer
Peganum harmala L. (Nitrariaceae) (Garmala obyknovennaya) (Russian), Hazorispand (Tajik)) is native to the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Central Asia (including Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan), and China (Missouri Botanical Garden, 2019). In Kyrgyzstan, a decoction of the root is used externally to treat scabies and other skin disorders; the aerial parts are burned, and the smoke inhaled to treat coughs and bronchitis (Pawera et al., 2016). In Tajikistan, the plant is used to treat liver problems, while the smoke from the burning seeds is used to treat symptoms of influenza (Williams, 2012). The plant (seeds, roots, aerial parts) contains the toxic alkaloids harmine, harmaline, harmalol, harmane, and vasicine (Figure 4.11) (Pulpati et al., 2008; Herraiz et al., 2010; Hemmateenejad et al., 2006).
Substrates of Human CYP2D6
Published in Shufeng Zhou, Cytochrome P450 2D6, 2018
Certain β-carbolines, such as pinoline, tryptoline, 6-hydroxy-tetrahydro-β-carboline, harman, and norharman, have been detected as normal constituents in human tissues and body fluids. Their levels in humans are usually increased after drinking alcohol. Harmaline and harmine exhibit potent inhibitory effect on MAO-A activity (Herraiz and Chaparro 2006), and both compounds are the principal active agents in Peganum harmala, a traditional Chinese medicine. The neurotoxic properties of p-carboline alkaloids may account for their associations with Parkinson’s disease. Tryptophanderived β-carbolines are similar to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in structure, which is known to induce immediate and irreversible parkinsonism through its neurotoxic metabolite, a quaternary ion (MPP+). Therefore, CYP2D6 status may be associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Chemical Composition of Traditional and Analog Ayahuasca
Published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2021
Helle Kaasik, Rita C. Z. Souza, Flávia S. Zandonadi, Luís Fernando Tófoli, Alessandra Sussulini
Potencies of harmine and harmaline as MAO-A inhibitors are different (Santillo et al. 2014). They also found nonlinear (antagonistic) interaction between harmine and harmaline at 50% MAO-A inhibition. The antagonism increased with decreasing levels of MAO-A inhibition, therefore, it may be even stronger at lower levels of MAO-A inhibition which correspond to lower doses of ayahuasca. Also, these compounds differ in other biochemical properties beyond MAO inhibition. These differences in biochemical properties of harmaline and harmine may cause differences in subjective and pharmacological effects of ayahuasca brews with different proportions of concentrations of these compounds. The differences of the subjective effects of brews containing P. harmala and B. caapi have been described, based on experiences shared in online forums: “substituting, say, Syrian rue for the ayahuasca vine, even though the rue contains the same harmala alkaloids, does apparently make an experiential difference. The experience with rue has been described as crystalline, cold, overwhelming, erratic, and uncaring, compared with that of the ayahuasca vine, which has been described as warm, organic, friendly, and purposeful.” (Beyer 2009, 253).
Syrian rue seeds interacted with acacia tree bark in an herbal stew resulted in N,N-dimethyltryptamine poisoning
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2019
Chuan-Huai Liu, Wei-Lan Chu, Shu-Chen Liao, Chen-Chang Yang, Chih-Chuan Lin
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a tryptamine with sympathomimetic effects and is an active ingredient of an ancient hallucinogenic beverage called “ayahuasca”, which is frequently used by adolescents and young adults [1]. DMT is commonly taken orally for recreation purpose. It is a challenge to confirm a diagnosis of DMT overdose in an acute situation. Commercially available urine drug test using enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) does not detect DMT. However, DMT may cross-react with sympathomimetic agents resulting in a false positive for amphetamine [2]. Harmaline, a plant alkaloid from the group of harmala alkaloids and beta-carbolines, is a central nervous system stimulant as well as a reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor (MAO-A inhibitor) [3].
Therapeutic Potential Ascribed to Ayahuasca by Users in the Czech Republic
Published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2018
Miroslav Horák, Lea Hasíková, Nahanga Verter
The liana Banisteriopsis caapi contains beta-carboline alkaloids, including harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine (Ott 1996). Harmine and tetrahydroharmine are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (IMAO) and have antidepressant effects (Sanches et al. 2016). Schenberg et al. (2015) revealed the relationship between the level of harmaline and vomiting. Vomiting is considered an important part of the ayahuasca experience.