OPEN Foundation

P. Jenner

The effect of Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) on the motor deficits in the MPTP-treated common marmoset model of Parkinson’s disease

January 24, 2018 / Ayahuasca, Medicine, Neuroscience, Other subjects, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) contains harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine, has monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity, and has reported antiparkinsonian activity in humans when imbibed as a tea; however, its effects are poorly documented. For this reason, motor function was assessed in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated common marmosets following administration of B. caapi extract (28.4–113.6 mg/kg; po), harmine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg; sc), and selegiline (10 mg/kg; sc), alone or with a submaximal dose of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA; 4–7 mg/kg). L-DOPA reversed motor disability, increased locomotor activity, and induced moderate dyskinesia. B. caapi did not increase locomotor activity or induce dyskinesia but at 56.8 and 113.6 mg/kg improved motor disability. The L-DOPA response was unaltered by co-administration of B. caapi. Harmine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) produced a mild improvement in motor disability without affecting locomotor activity or dyskinesia but had no effect on the L-DOPA-induced antiparkinsonian response. Selegiline (10 mg/kg) alone improved motor function to the same extent as L-DOPA, but with only mild dyskinesia, and did not alter the response to L-DOPA, although dyskinesia was reduced. The findings suggest that B. caapi alone has a mild antiparkinsonian effect but does not enhance the L-DOPA response or reduce dyskinesia.
Fisher, R., Lincoln, L., Jackson, M. J., Abbate, V., Jenner, P., Hider, R., … & Rose, S. (2018). The effect of Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) on the motor deficits in the MPTP‐treated common marmoset model of Parkinson’s disease. Phytotherapy Research. 10.1002/ptr.6017
Link to full text

The effect of Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) on the motor deficits in the MPTP-treated common marmoset model of Parkinson's disease

January 24, 2018 / Ayahuasca, Medicine, Neuroscience, Other subjects, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) contains harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine, has monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity, and has reported antiparkinsonian activity in humans when imbibed as a tea; however, its effects are poorly documented. For this reason, motor function was assessed in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated common marmosets following administration of B. caapi extract (28.4–113.6 mg/kg; po), harmine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg; sc), and selegiline (10 mg/kg; sc), alone or with a submaximal dose of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA; 4–7 mg/kg). L-DOPA reversed motor disability, increased locomotor activity, and induced moderate dyskinesia. B. caapi did not increase locomotor activity or induce dyskinesia but at 56.8 and 113.6 mg/kg improved motor disability. The L-DOPA response was unaltered by co-administration of B. caapi. Harmine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) produced a mild improvement in motor disability without affecting locomotor activity or dyskinesia but had no effect on the L-DOPA-induced antiparkinsonian response. Selegiline (10 mg/kg) alone improved motor function to the same extent as L-DOPA, but with only mild dyskinesia, and did not alter the response to L-DOPA, although dyskinesia was reduced. The findings suggest that B. caapi alone has a mild antiparkinsonian effect but does not enhance the L-DOPA response or reduce dyskinesia.
Fisher, R., Lincoln, L., Jackson, M. J., Abbate, V., Jenner, P., Hider, R., … & Rose, S. (2018). The effect of Banisteriopsis caapi (B. caapi) on the motor deficits in the MPTP‐treated common marmoset model of Parkinson’s disease. Phytotherapy Research. 10.1002/ptr.6017
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Activities of extract and constituents of Banisteriopsis caapi relevant to parkinsonism

June 14, 2003 / Ayahuasca, Neuroscience, Other subjects, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , ,

Abstract

Dopamine deficiency is characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and treatments aim at elevating levels by administration of its precursor l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA), or inhibiting monoamine oxidases (MAOs), thus preventing its breakdown. Reports of improvements in PD patients treated with Banisteriopsis caapi extracts stimulated investigation of B. caapi stem extract and its two ingredients, harmine and harmaline for these activities.

Tests for MAO inhibition using liver homogenate showed that extract and harmaline showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of MAO A (IC50 1.24 μg/ml and IC50 4.54 nM, respectively) but had little effect on MAO B activity.

The extract at 2.5 mg/ml caused a highly significant increase in release of [3H]dopamine from rat striatal slices, as did 200 μM harmine and 6 μM harmaline. In both these experiments, the amount of harmine present could not account for the total activity of the extract.

The ability of harmine and harmaline to stimulate dopamine release is a novel finding. These results give some basis to the reputed usefulness of B. caapi stem extract in the treatment of PD.

Schwarz, M. J., Houghton, P. J., Rose, S., Jenner, P., & Lees, A. D. (2003). Activities of extract and constituents of Banisteriopsis caapi relevant to parkinsonism. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 75(3), 627-633. 10.1016/S0091-3057(03)00129-1
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30 April - Q&A with Rick Strassman

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