Immunological Effects of Ayahuasca in Humans

Santos, Rafael G. dos

doi:10.1080/02791072.2014.960113

Cited by 14 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The large increase in cortisol levels by ayahuasca found 1 h 40 after intake, for health and depressive volunteers, corroborated our hypothesis. Previous studies in healthy subjects have also reported increased cortisol levels during the acute effects of ayahuasca ( 72 – 74 ), N,N-DMT ( 75 ), psilocybin ( 76 , 77 ), and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) ( 78 ). One should bear in mind that our patients presented, in general, hypocortisolemia, and blunted awakening salivary cortisol response.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Cortisol Modulation by Ayahuasca in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression and Healthy Controls

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Major depression is a highly prevalent mood disorder, affecting about 350 million people, and around 30% of the patients are resistant to currently available antidepressant medications. Recent evidence from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) supports the rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of ayahuasca on plasma cortisol and awakening salivary cortisol response, in the same group of treatment-resistant patients (MD) and in healthy volunteers (C). Subjects received a single dose of ayahuasca or placebo (dosing session), and both plasma and awakening salivary cortisol response were measured at baseline (before dosing session) and 48 h after the dosing session. Baseline assessment (D0) showed blunted awakening salivary cortisol response and hypocortisolemia in patients, with respect to healthy controls. Salivary cortisol was also measured during dosing session, and we observed higher increases for both C and MD that ingested ayahuasca than placebo. After 48 h from the dosing session with ayahuasca, patients' awakening salivary cortisol response is similar to the ones detected in controls. No significant changes in plasma cortisol levels were observed 48 h after the sessions. Therefore, these findings point to new evidence on the modulation of salivary cortisol levels as a result of an ayahuasca session, both in healthy and depressive volunteers. Considering that cortisol acts in regulation of distinct physiological pathways, emotional and cognitive processes, it is assumed to be critically involved to the etiology of depression and its regulation seems to be important for the treatment and remission of major depression, ayahuasca use as antidepressant should be further investigated. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of psychedelics in the treatment of human mental disorders.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Cortisol Modulation by Ayahuasca in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression and Healthy Controls

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An increase in total lymphocyte percentages at 1.5 h, and a decrease at 4.5 h was recorded, although no significant differences compared to placebo at 24 h were seen. CD3 and CD4 lymphocytes suffered a transient decrease at 1.5 and 2 h, CD8 and CD9 lymphocytes were not found to be modified, and the levels of natural killer (NK) cells significantly increased at 1.5 and 2 h. It has been postulated that cytokine secretion and cell differentiation can be impacted by the peripheral activation of 5-HT 2A receptors on leukocytes by DMT [ 156 , 157 ]. As shown by House et al [ 158 ], ayahuasca β-carboline alkaloids can also act on the immune system, a concentration-dependent suppression of IL-2 and IL-4 production, CD8 activity, B cell proliferation, and NK cell activity being observed following the exposure to harmaline.…”

Section: Psychological and Physiological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of Ayahuasca Alkaloids N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Harmine, Harmaline and Tetrahydroharmine: Clinical and Forensic Impact

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic botanical beverage originally used by indigenous Amazonian tribes in religious ceremonies and therapeutic practices. While ethnobotanical surveys still indicate its spiritual and medicinal uses, consumption of ayahuasca has been progressively related with a recreational purpose, particularly in Western societies. The ayahuasca aqueous concoction is typically prepared from the leaves of the N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-containing Psychotria viridis, and the stem and bark of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of harmala alkaloids. Herein, the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of the psychoactive DMT and harmala alkaloids harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, are comprehensively covered, particularly emphasizing the psychological, physiological, and toxic effects deriving from their concomitant intake. Potential therapeutic utility, particularly in mental and psychiatric disorders, and forensic aspects of DMT and ayahuasca are also reviewed and discussed. Following administration of ayahuasca, DMT is rapidly absorbed and distributed. Harmala alkaloids act as potent inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), preventing extensive first-pass degradation of DMT into 3-indole-acetic acid (3-IAA), and enabling sufficient amounts of DMT to reach the brain. DMT has affinity for a variety of serotonergic and non-serotonergic receptors, though its psychotropic effects are mainly related with the activation of serotonin receptors type 2A (5-HT2A). Mildly to rarely severe psychedelic adverse effects are reported for ayahuasca or its alkaloids individually, but abuse does not lead to dependence or tolerance. For a long time, the evidence has pointed to potential psychotherapeutic benefits in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders; and although misuse of ayahuasca has been diverting attention away from such clinical potential, research onto its therapeutic effects has now strongly resurged.

show abstract

“…), thus one should be particularly careful with the study design and interpretation of the data. Nevertheless, ayahuasca consumption in a highly controlled clinical setting emerges as a very promising model for investigating the possible immunomodulatory effects of DMT in humans ( 107 ). Importantly, it is possible that the observed anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects may counteract with the anti-cancer activity, therefore further investigations are needed to elucidate the complex in vivo consequences of DMT administration.…”

Section: Tryptamines: Endogenous Regulators Of Inflammation and Tumormentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychedelics and Immunomodulation: Novel Approaches and Therapeutic Opportunities

Szabó

2015

Front. Immunol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Classical psychedelics are psychoactive substances, which, besides their psychopharmacological activity, have also been shown to exert significant modulatory effects on immune responses by altering signaling pathways involved in inflammation, cellular proliferation, and cell survival via activating NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Recently, several neurotransmitter receptors involved in the pharmacology of psychedelics, such as serotonin and sigma-1 receptors, have also been shown to play crucial roles in numerous immunological processes. This emerging field also offers promising treatment modalities in the therapy of various diseases including autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions, infections, and cancer. However, the scarcity of available review literature renders the topic unclear and obscure, mostly posing psychedelics as illicit drugs of abuse and not as physiologically relevant molecules or as possible agents of future pharmacotherapies. In this paper, the immunomodulatory potential of classical serotonergic psychedelics, including N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine will be discussed from a perspective of molecular immunology and pharmacology. Special attention will be given to the functional interaction of serotonin and sigma-1 receptors and their cross-talk with toll-like and RIG-I-like pattern-recognition receptor-mediated signaling. Furthermore, novel approaches will be suggested feasible for the treatment of diseases with chronic inflammatory etiology and pathology, such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.

show abstract

Immunological Effects of Ayahuasca in Humans

Cited by 14 publications

References 45 publications

Cortisol Modulation by Ayahuasca in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression and Healthy Controls

Cortisol Modulation by Ayahuasca in Patients With Treatment Resistant Depression and Healthy Controls

Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of Ayahuasca Alkaloids N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Harmine, Harmaline and Tetrahydroharmine: Clinical and Forensic Impact

Psychedelics and Immunomodulation: Novel Approaches and Therapeutic Opportunities

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About