OPEN Foundation

Author name: OPEN Foundation

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.

Gaujac, A., Navickiene, S., Collins, M. I., Brandt, S. D., & Andrade, J. B. (2012). 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. Drug testing and analysis, 4(7-8), 636-648. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.1343
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Genuine and drug-induced synesthesia: a comparison

Abstract

Despite some principal similarities, there is no systematic comparison between the different types of synesthesia (genuine, acquired and drug-induced). This comprehensive review compares the three principal types of synesthesia and focuses on their phenomenological features and their relation to different etiological models. Implications of this comparison for the validity of the different etiological models are discussed.

Comparison of the three forms of synesthesia show many more differences than similarities. This is in contrast to their representation in the literature, where they are discussed in many respects as being virtually similar. Noteworthy is the much broader spectrum and intensity with the typical drug-induced synesthesias compared to genuine and acquired synesthesias. A major implication of the phenomenological comparison in regard to the etiological models is that genuine and acquired synesthesias point to morphological substrates, while drug-induced synesthesia appears to be based on functional changes of brain activity.

Sinke, C., Halpern, J. H., Zedler, M., Neufeld, J., Emrich, H. M., & Passie, T. (2012). Genuine and drug-induced synesthesia: a comparison. Consciousness and cognition, 21(3), 1419-1434. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2012.03.009
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Metabolism and disposition of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and harmala alkaloids after oral administration of ayahuasca

Abstract

Ayahuasca is an Amazonian psychotropic plant tea obtained from Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains β-carboline alkaloids, chiefly harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine. The tea usually incorporates the leaves of Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana, which are rich in N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic 5-HT2A/1A/2C agonist. The β-carbolines reversibly inhibit monoamine-oxidase (MAO), effectively preventing oxidative deamination of the orally labile DMT and allowing its absorption and access to the central nervous system. Despite increased use of the tea worldwide, the metabolism and excretion of DMT and the β-carbolines has not been studied systematically in humans following ingestion of ayahuasca. In the present work, we used an analytical method involving high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/electrospray ionization (ESI)/selected reaction monitoring (SRM)/tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS) to characterize the metabolism and disposition of ayahuasca alkaloids in humans. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were obtained from 10 healthy male volunteers following administration of an oral dose of encapsulated freeze-dried ayahuasca (1.0 mg DMT/kg body weight). Results showed that less than 1% of the administered DMT dose was excreted unchanged. Around 50% was recovered as indole-3-acetic acid but also as DMT-N-oxide (10%) and other MAO-independent compounds. Recovery of DMT plus metabolites reached 68%. Harmol, harmalol, and tetrahydroharmol conjugates were abundant in urine. However, recoveries of each harmala alkaloid plus its O-demethylated metabolite varied greatly between 9 and 65%. The present results show the existence in humans of alternative metabolic routes for DMT other than biotransformation by MAO. Also that O-demethylation plus conjugation is an important but probably not the only metabolic route for the harmala alkaloids in humans.

Riba, J., McIlhenny, E. H., Valle, M., Bouso, J. C., & Barker, S. A. (2012). Metabolism and disposition of N, N‐dimethyltryptamine and harmala alkaloids after oral administration of ayahuasca. Drug testing and analysis, 4(7-8), 610-616. 10.1002/dta.1344
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LSD kan helpen bij behandeling alcoholverslaving

alcoholismLSD kan helpen bij de behandeling van alcoholisme, zo blijkt uit een meta-analyse van een Noors onderzoeksteam. Deze studie, gepubliceerd in het Journal of Psychopharmacology, toont aan dat toediening van LSD aan alcoholverslaafde patiënten kan bijdragen aan het succes van een behandeling.

In de meta-analyse werden resultaten van zes gerandomiseerde klinische studies uit de periode 1966-1970 geanalyseerd. In deze studies werd in totaal bij 325 patiënten LSD toegediend, en bij 211 patiënten een placebo. Van de patiënten die LSD kreeg tijdens de behandeling vertoonde 59% een verbetering, vergeleken met 38% bij de patiënten die alleen een placebo kregen. De onderzoekers concluderen op basis van deze resultaten dat er bewijs is voor een positieve bijdrage van LSD bij de behandeling van mensen met een alcoholafhankelijkheid.

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LSD effective in the treatment of alcohol addiction

alcoholismLSD can be effective in the treatment of alcoholism, according to a new study of a Norwegian research team. This study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, shows that administration of LSD in alcoholics can contribute to the success of the treatment.

In this meta-analysis, the results of six randomized clinical trials that were published between 1966 and 1970 were used. In these studies LSD was administered in a total of 325 cases, and a placebo in 211 cases. Of the patients that received LSD 59% percent improved during the treatment, compared to only 38% of the persons receiving a placebo. The researchers conclude that there is evidence for a positive effect of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism.

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Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Assessments of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the treatment of alcoholism have not been based on quantitative meta-analysis. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism. Two reviewers independently extracted the data, pooling the effects using odds ratios (ORs) by a generic inverse variance, random effects model. We identified six eligible trials, including 536 participants. There was evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD on alcohol misuse (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.36–2.84; p = 0.0003). Between-trial heterogeneity for the treatment effects was negligible (I² = 0%). Secondary outcomes, risk of bias and limitations are discussed. A single dose of LSD, in the context of various alcoholism treatment programs, is associated with a decrease in alcohol misuse.

Krebs, T. S., & Johansen, P. Ø. (2012). Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcoholism: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 26(2), 994-1002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881112439253
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Implications for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Functional magnetic resonance imaging study with psilocybin

Abstract

Background: Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic drug that has a history of use in psychotherapy. One of the rationales for its use was that it aids emotional insight by lowering psychological defences.

Aims: To test the hypothesis that psilocybin facilitates access to personal memories and emotions by comparing subjective and neural responses to positive autobiographical memories under psilocybin and placebo.

Method: Ten healthy participants received two functional magnetic resonance imaging scans (2 mg intravenous psilocybin v. intravenous saline), separated by approximately 7 days, during which they viewed two different sets of 15 positive autobiographical memory cues. Participants viewed each cue for 6 s and then closed their eyes for 16 s and imagined re-experiencing the event. Activations during this recollection period were compared with an equivalent period of eyes-closed rest. We split the recollection period into an early phase (first 8 s) and a late phase (last 8 s) for analysis.

Results: Robust activations to the memories were seen in limbic and striatal regions in the early phase and the medial prefrontal cortex in the late phase in both conditions (P<0.001, whole brain cluster correction), but there were additional visual and other sensory cortical activations in the late phase under psilocybin that were absent under placebo. Ratings of memory vividness and visual imagery were significantly higher after psilocybin (P<0.05) and there was a significant positive correlation between vividness and subjective well-being at follow-up (P<0.01).

Conclusions: Evidence that psilocybin enhances autobiographical recollection implies that it may be useful in psychotherapy either as a tool to facilitate the recall of salient memories or to reverse negative cognitive biases.

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Leech, R., Williams, T. M., Erritzoe, D., Abbasi, N., Bargiotas, T., … & Wise, R. G. (2012). Implications for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: functional magnetic resonance imaging study with psilocybin. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(3), 238-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.103309
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A critical review of reports of endogenous psychedelic N, N-dimethyltryptamines in humans: 1955-2010

Abstract

Three indole alkaloids that possess differing degrees of psychotropic/psychedelic activity have been reported as endogenous substances in humans; N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-hydroxy-DMT (bufotenine, HDMT), and 5-methoxy-DMT (MDMT). We have undertaken a critical review of 69 published studies reporting the detection or detection and quantitation of these compounds in human body fluids. In reviewing this literature, we address the methods applied and the criteria used in the determination of the presence of DMT, MDMT, and HDMT. The review provides a historical perspective of the research conducted from 1955 to 2010, summarizing the findings for the individual compounds in blood, urine, and/or cerebrospinal fluid. A critique of the data is offered that addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the methods and approaches to date. The review also discusses the shortcomings of the existing data in light of more recent findings and how these may be overcome. Suggestions for the future directions of endogenous psychedelics research are offered.

Barker, S. A., McIlhenny, E. H., Strassman, R. (2013). A critical review of reports of endogenous psychedelic N, N-dimethyltryptamines in humans: 1955-2010. Drug Testing and Analysis, 4(7-8), 617-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dta.422
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Therapeutisch onderzoek hallucinogenen wint terrein

Kijk2

Wetenschapspopulariserend KIJK magazine heeft een artikel gewijd aan het onderzoek naar geestverruimende middelen. De titel van het artikel is “Trippend van je problemen af: De voorzichtige revival van drugs als medicijn”. Wetenschapsjournalist Jop de Vrieze interviewde onder andere psychiaters Andrew Feldmár en Charles Grob. Hij kwam tot de conclusie dat geestverruimende middelen tegenwoordig een “volwassen tak van wetenschappelijk onderzoek” vormen. XTC wordt in therapeutische setting toegediend bij emotionele stoornissen, psilocybine en LSD verminderen doodsangst, ketamine lijkt effectief bij depressie en ibogaine bij verslavingen. Deze positieve werkingen zijn al decennia bekend onder wetenschappers, maar mogen pas sinds kort weer openlijk onderzocht worden voor therapeutische doeleinden. Het artikel noemt hierbij het Amerikaanse Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies MAPS en evenals Stichting OPEN die hieraan een bijdrage leveren.

Het eerste deel van het artikel kan hier worden gelezen.

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Psychedelic research in popular literature

Kijk2The Dutch KIJK magazine printed an article on research on psychedelics. “Tripping away your problems: a slow revival of drugs as medicine”. Reporter Jop de Vrieze interviewed scientists among whom psychiatrists Andrew Feldmár en Charles Grob. Upon the interviews he based that nowadays psychedelics are a “full grown part of scientific studies”. XTC is therapeutically used for emotional illnesses, psilocybine and LSD with treating life quality in terminal illnesses, ketamine is effective with depression and ibogaine with addictions. These positive effects have been known to scientists for decades, yet only recently has public research slowly been allowed again. Both Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and The OPEN Foundation are brought forth in the article as promoting these studies.

The first part of the article (in Dutch) can be read here.

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Psyche & Praxis Forum: Working at the Edge of Medicine and Mysticism - January 29