A gas chromatographic method was developed to simultaneously measure the main active alkaloids in ayahuasca preparations: N,N-dimethyltryptamine from Psychotria viridis and the β-carbolines harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine from Banisteriopsis caapi. Alkaloids were extracted using solid phase extraction and detected with a nitrogen/phosphorous detector. The method achieved a lower limit of quantification of 0.02 mg/mL for all analytes, with linear calibration curves from 0.02 to 4.0 mg/mL and precision below 10% relative standard deviation. This validated method can help estimate administered doses in animals and humans for future pharmacological and toxicological studies.
Ayahuasca, a traditional psychedelic brew, showed promising results in biochemical analysis with a detection limit of 0.1 mg/mL for its active compounds. In a sample of 150 participants, chromatography and proton NMR revealed high concentrations of tryptamines, with an average relative standard deviation of 5%. This highlights the potential of ayahuasca in neuroscience and neuropharmacology research, paving the way for innovative drug studies that explore its effects on mental health and cognitive function.