Determination of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in beverages consumed in religious practices by headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry

Abstract

A novel analytical approach combining solid-phase microextraction (SPME)/gas chromatography ion trap mass spectrometry (GC-IT-MS) was developed for the detection and quantification N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychoactive indole alkaloid present in a variety of South American indigenous beverages, such as ayahuasca and vinho da jurema. These particular plant products, often used within a religious context, are increasingly consumed throughout the world following an expansion of religious groups and the availability of plant material over the Internet and high street shops. The method described in the present study included the use of SPME in headspace mode combined GC-IT-MS and included the optimization of the SPME procedure using multivariate techniques. The method was performed with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber in headspace mode (70 min at 60 °C) which resulted in good precision (RSD<8.6%) and accuracy values (71-109%). Detection and quantification limits obtained for DMT were 0.78 and 9.5 mg L(-1), respectively and good linearity (1.56-300 mg L(-1), r(2)=0.9975) was also observed. In addition, the proposed method showed good robustness and allowed for the minimization of sample manipulation. Five jurema beverage samples were prepared in the laboratory in order to study the impact of temperature, pH and ethanol on the ability to extract DMT into solution. The developed method was then applied to the analysis of twelve real ayahuasca and vinho da jurema samples, obtained from Brazilian religious groups, which revealed DMT concentration levels between 0.10 and 1.81 g L(-1).

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.…”

Toxicological Aspects and Determination of the Main Components of Ayahuasca: A Critical Review

“…Ayahuasca is an entheogenic beverage that has been consumed for centuries, originally by South American populations, more specifically, by Amazonian indigenous groups, in spiritual rituals and ceremonies in the hope of obtaining further knowledge and divine invigoration [1][2][3].…”

Determination of Tryptamines and β-Carbolines in Ayahuasca Beverage Consumed During Brazilian Religious Ceremonies

“…The harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, harmalol, and DMT concentrations in the samples ranged from 0.3 to 36.7 g/L (Figure 1). The increase observed for fractions 17-20 can be explained by the addition of all fractions (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) to form the apuro (ayahuasca tea) fractions, which contain significant concentrations of DMT and β-carbolines. It is suggested that the absence of tryptamine alkaloid is related to the complete bioconversion to DMT in plants.…”

“…Accepted by SG November 21, 2016. 1 Corresponding author's e-mail: sandnavi@ufs.br DOI: 10.5740/jaoacint.16-0337 Samples 1-16 were analyzed directly by the SPE method, whereas samples 17-20 were initially diluted (1:100) due to their viscous characteristics that could clog the filter of the SPE cartridges.…”

“…The combination of the leaves of P. viridis (containing DMT) and the reversible MAO inhibitors renders the DMT orally active. Brazilian legislation, based on a constitutional right to freedom of religion, permits the consumption of ayahuasca within a religious context (1,2). Norms concerning the use of ayahuasca in Brazil for religious purposes were published by the Brazilian National Council on Drug Policies in January 2010; they prohibit the marketing of ayahuasca, its therapeutic use, ayahuasca tourism, and its use with illicit drugs (3).…”