Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Ayahuasca Brews by Ambient Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

A rapid method using direct analysis in real time-high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS) quantifies N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in ayahuasca brews without lengthy sample preparation. The technique also identifies the beverage by detecting secondary metabolites from its plant ingredients. Analysis of six ayahuasca brews made with different combinations of DMT- and harmala alkaloid-containing plants found DMT levels ranging from 45.7 to 230.5 mg/L, consistent with values from conventional methods.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime designated twenty psychoactive botanical species as "plants of concern" because of their increased recreational abuse. Four of these are used to prepare ayahuasca brews. The complexity of the plant matrices, as well as the beverage itself, make the identification and quantification of the Schedule I component, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a time-consuming and resource-intensive endeavor when performed using conventional approaches previously reported. Reported here is the development of a rapid validated method for the quantification of DMT in ayahuasca by direct analysis in real time-high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS). This ambient ionization approach also enables identification of ayahuasca through detection of the secondary metabolites associated with its plant constituents. Analysis of six ayahuasca brews created using different combinations of DMT/harmala alkaloid-containing plants resulted in beverages with DMT levels of 45.7-230.5 mg/L. The detected amounts were consistent with previously reported values determined by conventional approaches.