The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro
Abstract Banisteriopsis caapi is the basic ingredient of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant tea used in the Amazon for ritual and medicinal purposes, and by interested individuals worldwide. Animal studies and recent clinical research suggests that B. caapi preparations show antidepressant activity, a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9 |
| _version_ | 1818420393033072640 |
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| author | Jose A. Morales-García Mario de la Fuente Revenga Sandra Alonso-Gil María Isabel Rodríguez-Franco Amanda Feilding Ana Perez-Castillo Jordi Riba |
| author_facet | Jose A. Morales-García Mario de la Fuente Revenga Sandra Alonso-Gil María Isabel Rodríguez-Franco Amanda Feilding Ana Perez-Castillo Jordi Riba |
| author_sort | Jose A. Morales-García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Banisteriopsis caapi is the basic ingredient of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant tea used in the Amazon for ritual and medicinal purposes, and by interested individuals worldwide. Animal studies and recent clinical research suggests that B. caapi preparations show antidepressant activity, a therapeutic effect that has been linked to hippocampal neurogenesis. Here we report that harmine, tetrahydroharmine and harmaline, the three main alkaloids present in B. caapi, and the harmine metabolite harmol, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. In neurospheres prepared from progenitor cells obtained from the subventricular and the subgranular zones of adult mice brains, all compounds stimulated neural stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation into adult neurons. These findings suggest that modulation of brain plasticity could be a major contribution to the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca. They also expand the potential application of B. caapi alkaloids to other brain disorders that may benefit from stimulation of endogenous neural precursor niches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:53:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f69a5bf335241359aa3a50eb6c97777 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:53:45Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f69a5bf335241359aa3a50eb6c977772022-12-21T23:00:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-07-017111310.1038/s41598-017-05407-9The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitroJose A. Morales-García0Mario de la Fuente Revenga1Sandra Alonso-Gil2María Isabel Rodríguez-Franco3Amanda Feilding4Ana Perez-Castillo5Jordi Riba6Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CSIC-UAM)Human Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group. Sant Pau Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau). Sant Antoni María ClaretInstituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CSIC-UAM)Instituto de Química Médica (IQM-CSIC)The Beckley Foundation, Beckley ParkInstituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CSIC-UAM)Human Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group. Sant Pau Institute of Biomedical Research (IIB-Sant Pau). Sant Antoni María ClaretAbstract Banisteriopsis caapi is the basic ingredient of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant tea used in the Amazon for ritual and medicinal purposes, and by interested individuals worldwide. Animal studies and recent clinical research suggests that B. caapi preparations show antidepressant activity, a therapeutic effect that has been linked to hippocampal neurogenesis. Here we report that harmine, tetrahydroharmine and harmaline, the three main alkaloids present in B. caapi, and the harmine metabolite harmol, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. In neurospheres prepared from progenitor cells obtained from the subventricular and the subgranular zones of adult mice brains, all compounds stimulated neural stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation into adult neurons. These findings suggest that modulation of brain plasticity could be a major contribution to the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca. They also expand the potential application of B. caapi alkaloids to other brain disorders that may benefit from stimulation of endogenous neural precursor niches.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9 |
| spellingShingle | Jose A. Morales-García Mario de la Fuente Revenga Sandra Alonso-Gil María Isabel Rodríguez-Franco Amanda Feilding Ana Perez-Castillo Jordi Riba The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro Scientific Reports |
| title | The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro |
| title_full | The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro |
| title_fullStr | The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro |
| title_full_unstemmed | The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro |
| title_short | The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro |
| title_sort | alkaloids of banisteriopsis caapi the plant source of the amazonian hallucinogen ayahuasca stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05407-9 |
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