Abstract
Drug and Alcohol Dependence 54 (1999) 183–194
Behavioral profile of constituents in
ayahuasca, an Amazonian
psychoactive plant mixture
Cory S. Freedland 1,a, Robert S. Mansbach b,*
a Department of Psychology, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan A6enue, New London,
CT 06320, USA
b Department of Neuroscience, Pfizer Central Research, Eastern Point Road,
Groton, CT 06340, USA
Received 4 May 1998; accepted 18 August 1998
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant mixture typically composed of the b-carboline-rich
Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the
hallucinogenic plant Psychotria viridis. Ayahuasca has long been used by aboriginal
populations for its putative spiritual and
medicinal benefits. Although the presumed primary chemical constituents of
ayahuasca have been identified, little is known about
the basic in vivo pharmacology of the extract. Two principal constituents
of ayahuasca, the b-carboline harmine and
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were selected for detailed study in mice using
the Functional Observational Battery (FOB). The
B. caapi extract was then examined alone and in combination with DMT. Harmine
and the B. caapi extract produced similar
effects in the FOB, particularly in the open field. Clonic and tonic motor
movements were augmented by DMT administration.
Harmine and B. caapi decreased acoustic startle amplitude without significantly
affecting prepulse inhibition. DMT appeared to
attenuate startle-decreasing effects of harmine and B. caapi, although these
effects fell just short of significance. These results
suggest that the behavioral effects of B. caapi in mice may be attributed
in large part to its principal alkaloid species, harmine,
and related b-carbolines in the extract. Hence, the presence of the banisteriopsis
vine in the admixture may directly contribute to
the unique subjective effects of ayahuasca. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland
Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Ayahuasca; Mice; Functional observational battery; Harmine; Dimethyltryptamine;
Ethnopharmacology
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