Antidepressive and anxiolytic effects of ayahuasca: a systematic literature review of animal and human studies

Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review of animal and human studies reporting anxiolytic or antidepressive effects of ayahuasca or some of its isolated alkaloids (dimethyltryptamine, harmine, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline). Methods: Papers published until 3 April 2015 were retrieved from the PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases following a comprehensive search strategy and using a predetermined set of criteria for article selection. Results: Five hundred and fourteen studies were identified, of which 21 met the established criteria. Studies in animals have shown anxiolytic and antidepressive effects of ayahuasca, harmine, and harmaline, and experimental studies in humans and mental health assessments of experienced ayahuasca consumers also suggest that ayahuasca is associated with reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. A pilot study reported rapid antidepressive effects of a single ayahuasca dose in six patients with recurrent depression. Conclusion: Considering the need for new drugs that produce fewer adverse effects and are more effective in reducing anxiety and depression symptomatology, the described effects of ayahuasca and its alkaloids should be further investigated.

Harmaline interactions with yeast invertase.

The effect of harmaline, a plant alkaloid has been studied on yeast invertase activity in the absence and presence of 50mM Na+ as a function of pH. Harmaline (1-3 mM) inhibited the invertase activity at pH 5.2, 6.8 and 8 both in the absence (44-92%) and (22-85%) of Na+ ions. Kinetic analysis revealed that harmaline is a non-competitive inhibitor of invertase, at pH 5.2 and 6.8 but at pH 8, it produced a mixed type of inhibition, Km increased by 450% and 175% and Vmax decreased by 82% and 63% in the absence and presence of 50mM Na ions respectively. The observed inhibition of invertase by harmaline was reversible in nature. These findings suggest that the presence of Na+ site is not a prerequisite for the inhibition of enzyme by harmaline.

Effect of pH and sodium ions on intestinal uptake of lysine in rats.

Intestinal uptake of lysine in rats progressively decreased with an increase in pH from 5.2 to 8.5, both in the presence and absence of Na+ ions. At pH 5.2 lysine uptake was 30-35% more than that at neutral pH. Na+ activated lysine uptake by 40-50% at pH 5.2 and it was increased to 110-120% at neutral pH. The observed increase in lysine uptake in response to Na+ and H+ gradients was due to enhanced maximal velocity (Vmax), with little change in affinity constant (Kt). Arrhenius analysis revealed a biphasic curve for lysine uptake with transition temperature (Tc) around 20 degrees C (24 degrees C at pH 5.2 in presence of Na+). The energy of activation (Ea) below (16.1-23.4 Kcal/mole) and above (6.7-8.6 Kcal/mole) the Tc was similar at pH 5.2 and 7.0 both in the presence and absence of Na+ ions. The sensitivity of lysine uptake to various inhibitors was also dependent upon pH and Na+ ions.