Anti-inflammatory activity of ayahuasca: therapeutical implications in neurological and psychiatric diseases

Ayahuasca, a psychoactive decoction used for millennia by indigenous groups and Amazonian populations, shows therapeutic effects on behavioral disorders by inhibiting monoamine oxidase and activating serotonin receptors. Its pharmacological response also involves anti-inflammatory action, primarily through dimethyltryptamines (N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), which regulate inflammation and immune homeostasis via sigma-1 receptors. Because neuroinflammation underlies many neurological and psychiatric diseases, the available evidence suggests ayahuasca is a promising and very safe therapeutic strategy, as extremely high doses are required for toxicity. However, additional studies are needed to confirm this evidence and fully elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ayahuasca is a decoction with psychoactive properties, used for millennia for therapeutic and religious purposes by indigenous groups and the population of amazonian countries. As described in this narrative review, it is essentially constituted by β-carbolines and tryptamines, and it has therapeutic effects on behavioral disorders due to the inhibition of the monoamine oxidase enzyme and the activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, demonstrated through preclinical and clinical studies. It was recently observed that the pharmacological response presented by ayahuasca is linked to its anti-inflammatory action, attributed mainly to dimethyltryptamines (N, N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine), which act as endogenous systemic regulators of inflammation and immune homeostasis, also through sigma-1 receptors. Therefore, since neuroinflammation is among the main pathophysiological mechanisms related to the development of neurological and psychiatric diseases, we suggest, based on the available evidence, that ayahuasca is a promising and very safe therapeutic strategy since extremely high doses are required to reach toxicity. However, even so, additional studies are needed to confirm such evidence, as well as the complete elucidation of the mechanisms involved.