Chemical composition of Ayahuasca seized in Poland

Abstract

Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive brew of Amazonian indigenous, used for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Over the years, the consumption of ayahuasca all over the world has increased not only in shamanic and religious rituals, but also for recreational purposes. Wide variation in the concentration of alkaloids, i.e. N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmaline, harmine, tetrahydroharmine (THH) and harmalol in Ayahuasca has been reported worldwide. Being a plant preparation, traditional Ayahuasca is variable in appearance, taste, and effects. Several studies suggest that it has anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antiaddictive effects. The aim of our study was to determine alkaloids concentration in Ayahuasca preparation seized in two cases of Ayahuasca rituals in Poland. In these cases we also analyzed plant material, i.e. the bark and stem of Banisteriopsis caapi, leaves of Psychotria viridis, seeds of Peganum Harmala and brown powder substances. The research material consisted of 32 samples of Ayahuasca brew seized in two Ayahuasca rituals cases in Poland and sent for examination to the Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow. Samples were prepared by dilution in ethanol or ethanol:water (1:1 v/v) mixture. The qualitative analyses of the samples were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Gas chromatograph HP 6890N GC System coupled with the 5973 Network Mass Selective Detector with a quadrupole mass analyzer from Agilent Technologies (USA), were used in the study. Chromatographic separation of the tested compounds in the programmed temperature increase was carried out on the HP-5MS capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm; 0.25 μm). The sample was dosed automatically in the splitless mode. The mass spectrometer operated in positive electron ionisation mode (EJ), and the energy beam was 70 eV. The acquisition was conducted in the scanning mode of the full mass range of m/z from 29 to 600 amu. The concentrations of DMT, harmaline and harmine were determined by liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry, a hybrid combination of quadrupole and time of flight analyzer (LC-MS/QTOF). The 1200 series liquid chromatograph and the 6520 Accurate-Mass QTOFMS mass spectrometer from Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA, USA) were used. The separation was carried out on the Ascentis express C18 column (7.5 cm × 2.1 mm; 2.7 μm) from Supelco, thermostated at 35 °C. A mixture of 0.1% formic acid in water (A, v/v) and acetonitrile (B, v/v) was used as a mobile phase. Our research showed large variations in alkaloid profiles of Ayahuasca samples from one source. The concentration ranges of alkaloids was within: for DMT: 0.09–1.60 mg/mL, harmaline: 0.02–5.39 mg/mL and for harmine: 0.11–1.49 mg/mL. Concentration of DMT, HRL and HRM in Ayahuasca preparation was analyzed. Our research showed large variations in alkaloid profiles of Ayahuasca samples from one source. Variability of the brew composition and individual variability of effects together make it difficult for users to assess the quality of the brew that they drink during the ceremony. Our research results may be surely used as warning for participants of illicit Ayahuasca ceremonials, by increasing awareness about the quality of herbal preparations used.