Effects of ayahuasca in preclinical studies with animals: a systematic review

This systematic review investigates the effects of the ayahuasca beverage (Aya) in various animal models. Using the PRISMA protocol and adhering to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews, a comprehensive selection of 2,359 documents was identified from the Web of Science, Medline, and Scopus databases between 2012 and 2022. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were included in the final analysis. The analysis revealed a diversity in the selection of animal models that included different developmental stages and various forms of Aya intoxication, including acute and chronic doses, and varying concentrations of the active principles. The studies revealed that Aya causes significant alterations in the motor and cognitive behavior of animals, especially associated with the serotonergic system, which seems to contribute to the negative symptoms also observed in schizophrenia and depression. Despite the evidence found, this review highlights the scarcity of more robust pre-clinical studies with methodological standardization to make more conclusive comparisons, especially given the need to identify potential toxic and neurochemical effects of Aya on organisms for a safer assessment of its therapeutic use.