Pre-clinical interaction of ayahuasca, a brew used in spiritual movements, with morphine and propofol

ABSTRACT Ayahuasca is a beverage with psychoactive properties used in religious and ceremonial rituals by some religious groups. The main active components of ayahuasca are dimethyltryptamine and the harmala alkaloids with ß-carboline structure acting as monoamine oxidase A inhibitors. This combination produces a pronounced activation of serotonergic pathways and presents potential interaction with other psychotropics. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible interactions between ayahuasca and agents employed in general anesthesia. The pharmacological interactions between ayahuasca and morphine or propofol were evaluated in mice using doses of 12, 120 and 1200 mg/kg (0.1 to 10 times the average dose consumed by humans in religious rituals). Ayahuasca alone showed an antinociceptive effect in the writhing and formalin tests, and intensified the analgesic effect of morphine in the hot plate test. Concerning the pharmacological interactions between ayahuasca and propofol, the results were opposite; ayahuasca intensified the depressant effect of propofol in the rotarod test, but decreased the sleeping time induced by propofol. These set of results showed the occurrence of some interactions between ayahuasca and the drugs morphine and propofol, possibly by both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics mechanisms

Perfil farmacológico e fitoquímico de plantas indicadas pelos caboclos do Parque Nacional do Jaú (AM) como potenciais analgésicas: parte I / Phytochemical and pharmacological profile of plants indicated by caboclos of Jaú National Park (AM) as potential analgesic: part I

Muitos estudos de plantas medicinais baseiam-se em informações etnofarmacológicas, na intenção de encurtar o tempo e diminuir os recursos financeiros no desenvolvimento de novas drogas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar estudos de farmacologia pré-clínica e fitoquímica com três extratos vegetais, obtidos de duas das 42 plantas com potenciais efeitos analgésico e/ou antiinflamatório, indicadas pelos moradores do Parque Nacional do Jaú, AM. Os extratos hidroalcoólicos foram submetidos à caracterização fitoquímica por meio de cromatografia em camada delgada (CCD). Os testes de farmacologia pré-clínica empregados foram: screening inicial, rota rod, atividade motora, placa quente, tail flick e contorções abdominais, nas doses de 300 e 500 mg/kg. Os três extratos foram obtidos a partir das cascas da cumandá: Campsiandra comosa Benth., Fabaceae (EHCC) e das folhas (EHSF) e cascas (EHSC) da sucuuba: Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae. As análises fitoquímicas revelaram a presença de flavonóides, taninos, iridóides e triterpenos nos diferentes extratos; enquanto os alcalóides e cumarinas não foram detectados. A investigação farmacológica demonstrou atividade analgésica discreta apenas no teste de contorções abdominais para os extratos EHSF e EHCC; nenhuma alteração foi observada no aparelho de rota rod e de modo geral, observou-se diminuição da atividade motora em todos os extratos nas diferentes doses testadas. Diferentes extratos destas plantas estão sendo testados em outros modelos, pelo mesmo grupo de trabalho, a fim de aprofundar os conhecimentos acerca do perfil farmacológico destas espécies.

This work aimed to study the pre-clinical pharmacology and phytochemistry of three plant extracts, obtained from two of the 42 plants with potential analgesic and / or anti-inflammatory, indicated by the residents of the National Park of Jaú, AM. The hydroalcoholic extracts were subjected to phytochemical characterization by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Tests for pre-clinical pharmacology employed were: initial screening, rota rod, motor activity, hot plate, tail flick and abdominal contortions at doses of 300 and 500 mg / kg. The three extracts were obtained from the bark of cumandá: Campsiandra comosa Benth., Fabaceae (EHCC) and leaves (EHSF) and bark (EHSC) of sucuuba: Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes and iridoids in different extracts, while the alkaloids and coumarins were not detected. Research has shown pharmacological activity for EHSF and EHCC extracts, only in the mild analgesic test for abdominal contortions, while no change was observed in the rota rod; and in general, there was decrease in motor activity in all extracts at different doses tested. Different extracts of these plants are being tested in other models by the same working group, in order to deepen the knowledge about the pharmacological profile of these species.