Analytical techniques for the determination of tryptamines and β‐carbolines in plant matrices and in psychoactive beverages consumed during religious ceremonies and neo‐shamanic urban practices

Abstract

The consumption of ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage used by indigenous communities in the Amazon, is increasing worldwide due to the expansion of syncretic religions founded in the north of Brazil in the first half of the twentieth century, such as Santo Daime and União do Vegetal. Another example is the jurema wine, a drink that originated from indigenous cultures of the northeast of Brazil. It is currently used for several religious practices throughout Brazil involving urban neo-shamanic rituals and syncretic Brazilian religions, such as Catimbó and Umbanda. Both plant products contain N,N-dimethyltryptamine which requires co-administration of naturally occurring monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for example β-carboline derivatives, in order to induce its psychoactive effects in humans. This review explores the cultural use of tryptamines and β-carbolines and focuses on the analytical techniques that have been recently applied to the determination of these compounds in ayahuasca, its analogues, and the plants used during the preparation of these beverages.

Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users

“…DMT is orally inactive due to its breakdown by monoamine oxidase activity in the gastrointestinal tract. The β-carboline alkaloids in the hoasca are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) and render the DMT orally psychoactive [1,2,3]. The hoasca tea is used sacramentally by the União do Vegetal (UDV), a Brazilian religion that combines Christian and reincarnation beliefs with the ritual use of the psychedelic brew.…”

Application of ambient ionization high resolution mass spectrometry to determination of the botanical provenance of the constituents of psychoactive drug mixtures

“…Conventional time intensive protocols utilizing chromatographic or hyphenated methods such as HPLC-fluorescence, [36] gas chromatography (GC)-or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) have been used to isolate and identify DMT and harmala alkaloids in Ayahuasca. [30,[37][38][39][40][41] harmala. Intensive method development is also needed to optimize chromatographic M a n u s c r i p t 10 separation of the components in the brew, which adds to the overall analysis time.…”

Biosensor based on inhibition of monoamine oxidases A and B for detection of β-carbolines

“…We have electrodeposited a mixed PB-Cu film on the screen-printed carbon electrode from a solution that contains FeCl 3 together with CuSO 4 into 0.5 mM K 3 Fe(CN) 6 , 10 mM HCl and 100 mM KCl. Different ratios of FeCl 3 , CuSO 4 and K 3 Fe(CN) 6 (1:1:1; 0.5:0.5:1 and 1:0.5:1) were tested in order to obtain a stable film of PB-Cu, a good sensitivity towards H 2 O 2 detection and to reduce the background noise. A mixture of 0.5 mM FeCl 3 , 0.25 mM CuSO 4 and 0.5 mM K 3 Fe(CN) 6 was chosen as optimum for the biosensor development.…”

“…Different ratios of FeCl 3 , CuSO 4 and K 3 Fe(CN) 6 (1:1:1; 0.5:0.5:1 and 1:0.5:1) were tested in order to obtain a stable film of PB-Cu, a good sensitivity towards H 2 O 2 detection and to reduce the background noise. A mixture of 0.5 mM FeCl 3 , 0.25 mM CuSO 4 and 0.5 mM K 3 Fe(CN) 6 was chosen as optimum for the biosensor development. The formation of PBCu film was carried out by 20 cycles and increasing peaks at þ0.096/0.020 V were observed (Fig.…”

“…Rapid increase in plasma levels and high bioavailability of norharman and harman was found after consumption of β-carboline-containing foods or tobacco smoking [3]. The β-carbolines are inhibitors of monoamine oxidases (MAO) [4] and are psychoactive compounds found in "legal highs" [5] or hallucinogenic plant preparations such as ayahuasca [6]. In pharmacology, MAO-A selective inhibitor drugs are useful as antidepressants [7] and MAO-B selective inhibitor drugs are employed for treatment of Parkinson's disease [8], but dangerous interactions may appear, for example the foods rich in tyramine are contraindicated for the patients under MAO inhibi-…”