Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia
The experimental psychosis observed after drinking Ayahoasca, a South American hallucinogenic beverage from the Amazon Indians, reproduces the pathologic transmethylation theory of schizophrenia. This theory postulates a decrease in the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, which results in the accumula...
Guardado en:
| Publicado: |
1999
|
|---|---|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio |
| Aporte de: |
| id |
paper:paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio |
|---|---|
| record_format |
dspace |
| spelling |
paper:paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio2023-06-08T15:40:33Z Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia Ayahoasca Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry MAO Methylated indolalkylamines Psychodisleptic Schizophrenia Transmethylation hypothesis ayahoasca extract ayurvedic drug hydrocortisone prolactin psychedelic agent serotonin unclassified drug article botany controlled study drinking drug accumulation drug potency enzyme activity ethnopharmacology extraction gas chromatography human human experiment hydrocortisone blood level mass spectrometry methylation normal human phytochemistry phytotoxicity prolactin blood level psychometry psychosis schizophrenia serotonin blood level South America tea Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Hallucinogens Humans Hydrocortisone N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Plant Extracts Prolactin Schizophrenia Serotonin South America The experimental psychosis observed after drinking Ayahoasca, a South American hallucinogenic beverage from the Amazon Indians, reproduces the pathologic transmethylation theory of schizophrenia. This theory postulates a decrease in the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, which results in the accumulation of methylated indolealkylamines, such as bufotenin (5-hydroxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N- dimethyltryptamine. These substances are strong hallucinogens as has been previously confirmed experimentally. On the other hand, it is known that Ayahoasca is a beverage usually prepared by boiling two plants, one of them rich in β-carbolines, which are naturally occurring strong inhibitors of MAO, and the other with high quantities of DMT. This particular combination reproduces what is supposed to occur under pathologic conditions of different psychoses. The effects of Ayahoasca were studied in subjects, assessing urine levels of DMT by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after the intake of the beverage. The results of this study confirm that the hallucinogenic compounds detected in the healthy subjects' (post-Hoasca, but not before) urine samples are the same as those found in samples from acute psychotic unmedicated patients. The chemical composition of the Ayahoasca beverage, and of the plant material used for its preparation are also reported as well as psychometric and neuroendocrine subject parameters. 1999 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
Ayahoasca Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry MAO Methylated indolalkylamines Psychodisleptic Schizophrenia Transmethylation hypothesis ayahoasca extract ayurvedic drug hydrocortisone prolactin psychedelic agent serotonin unclassified drug article botany controlled study drinking drug accumulation drug potency enzyme activity ethnopharmacology extraction gas chromatography human human experiment hydrocortisone blood level mass spectrometry methylation normal human phytochemistry phytotoxicity prolactin blood level psychometry psychosis schizophrenia serotonin blood level South America tea Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Hallucinogens Humans Hydrocortisone N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Plant Extracts Prolactin Schizophrenia Serotonin South America |
| spellingShingle |
Ayahoasca Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry MAO Methylated indolalkylamines Psychodisleptic Schizophrenia Transmethylation hypothesis ayahoasca extract ayurvedic drug hydrocortisone prolactin psychedelic agent serotonin unclassified drug article botany controlled study drinking drug accumulation drug potency enzyme activity ethnopharmacology extraction gas chromatography human human experiment hydrocortisone blood level mass spectrometry methylation normal human phytochemistry phytotoxicity prolactin blood level psychometry psychosis schizophrenia serotonin blood level South America tea Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Hallucinogens Humans Hydrocortisone N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Plant Extracts Prolactin Schizophrenia Serotonin South America Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| topic_facet |
Ayahoasca Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry MAO Methylated indolalkylamines Psychodisleptic Schizophrenia Transmethylation hypothesis ayahoasca extract ayurvedic drug hydrocortisone prolactin psychedelic agent serotonin unclassified drug article botany controlled study drinking drug accumulation drug potency enzyme activity ethnopharmacology extraction gas chromatography human human experiment hydrocortisone blood level mass spectrometry methylation normal human phytochemistry phytotoxicity prolactin blood level psychometry psychosis schizophrenia serotonin blood level South America tea Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Hallucinogens Humans Hydrocortisone N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Plant Extracts Prolactin Schizophrenia Serotonin South America |
| description |
The experimental psychosis observed after drinking Ayahoasca, a South American hallucinogenic beverage from the Amazon Indians, reproduces the pathologic transmethylation theory of schizophrenia. This theory postulates a decrease in the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, which results in the accumulation of methylated indolealkylamines, such as bufotenin (5-hydroxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N- dimethyltryptamine. These substances are strong hallucinogens as has been previously confirmed experimentally. On the other hand, it is known that Ayahoasca is a beverage usually prepared by boiling two plants, one of them rich in β-carbolines, which are naturally occurring strong inhibitors of MAO, and the other with high quantities of DMT. This particular combination reproduces what is supposed to occur under pathologic conditions of different psychoses. The effects of Ayahoasca were studied in subjects, assessing urine levels of DMT by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after the intake of the beverage. The results of this study confirm that the hallucinogenic compounds detected in the healthy subjects' (post-Hoasca, but not before) urine samples are the same as those found in samples from acute psychotic unmedicated patients. The chemical composition of the Ayahoasca beverage, and of the plant material used for its preparation are also reported as well as psychometric and neuroendocrine subject parameters. |
| title |
Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| title_short |
Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| title_full |
Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| title_fullStr |
Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Ayahoasca: An experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| title_sort |
ayahoasca: an experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia |
| publishDate |
1999 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_03788741_v65_n1_p29_Pomilio |
| _version_ |
1768544553298558976 |