Validation of an analytical method for the determination of the main ayahuasca active compounds and application to
Rita C Z Souza1, Flávia S Zandonadi1, Donizete P Freitas1
1Laboratory of Bioanalytics and Integrated Omics (LaBIOmics), Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
Ayahuasca is a brew prepared from the water decoction of two Amazonian plants, which is legally used for religious, cultural or therapeutic activities. The potential use of ayahuasca as a natural or phytotherapeutic drug is directly linked to the action of its active compounds and their connection with the therapeutic efficacy of the beverage. In this context, the aim of the present study was to establish a selective, sensitive and reproducible analytical method for the quantification of the main active ayahuasca compounds. Thirty-eight samples from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed and the simultaneous quantifications of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), tetrahydroharmine (THH), harmine (HME) and harmaline (HML) were performed. This study enabled the development of a fast validated analytical method with minimal matrix interference and high reproducibility for the tracing of active ayahuasca compound concentrations for the first time. This method is important as an auxiliary tool for the study of active compound effects in biological responses using different multi-omic platforms.
Related Concept Videos
Development of Analytical Methods
Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning
Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...
Sampling Methods: Sample Types
Solid samples include a variety of substances, such as sediments from water bodies, soil, metals, and biological tissues. Two standard methods for extracting sediments from water bodies are grab sampling and piston coring. Grab sampling involves using a device to collect a discrete sediment sample from the bottom of a water body with minimal disturbance. Grab samples do not always represent the entire area due to...
Reliability and Validity
Convenience Sampling Method
Convenience sampling is a non-random method of sample selection; this method selects individuals that are easily accessible and may result in biased data. For example, a marketing...
Sampling Methods: Overview
In analytical chemistry, the choice of...


