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Hunt A, Merola GP, Carpenter T, Jaeggi AV. Evolutionary perspectives on substance and behavioural addictions: Distinct and shared pathways to understanding, prediction and prevention. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105603. [PMID: 38402919 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Addiction poses significant social, health, and criminal issues. Its moderate heritability and early-life impact, affecting reproductive success, poses an evolutionary paradox: why are humans predisposed to addictive behaviours? This paper reviews biological and psychological mechanisms of substance and behavioural addictions, exploring evolutionary explanations for the origin and function of relevant systems. Ancestrally, addiction-related systems promoted fitness through reward-seeking, and possibly self-medication. Today, psychoactive substances disrupt these systems, leading individuals to neglect essential life goals for immediate satisfaction. Behavioural addictions (e.g. video games, social media) often emulate ancestrally beneficial behaviours, making them appealing yet often irrelevant to contemporary success. Evolutionary insights have implications for how addiction is criminalised and stigmatised, propose novel avenues for interventions, anticipate new sources of addiction from emerging technologies such as AI. The emerging potential of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists targeting obesity suggest the satiation system may be a natural counter to overactivation of the reward system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hunt
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Tom Carpenter
- College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Adrian V Jaeggi
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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2
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Sansone L, Milani F, Fabrizi R, Belli M, Cristina M, Zagà V, de Iure A, Cicconi L, Bonassi S, Russo P. Nicotine: From Discovery to Biological Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14570. [PMID: 37834017 PMCID: PMC10572882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotine, the primary psychoactive agent in tobacco leaves, has led to the widespread use of tobacco, with over one billion smokers globally. This article provides a historical overview of tobacco and discusses tobacco dependence, as well as the biological effects induced by nicotine on mammalian cells. Nicotine induces various biological effects, such as neoangiogenesis, cell division, and proliferation, and it affects neural and non-neural cells through specific pathways downstream of nicotinic receptors (nAChRs). Specific effects mediated by α7 nAChRs are highlighted. Nicotine is highly addictive and hazardous. Public health initiatives should prioritize combating smoking and its associated risks. Understanding nicotine's complex biological effects is essential for comprehensive research and informed health policies. While potential links between nicotine and COVID-19 severity warrant further investigation, smoking remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Effective public health strategies are vital to promote healthier lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Sansone
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality, Life Promotion San Raffaele University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (A.d.I.); (S.B.)
- MEBIC Consortium, San Raffaele University, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Milani
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (F.M.); (R.F.); (L.C.)
| | - Riccardo Fabrizi
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (F.M.); (R.F.); (L.C.)
| | - Manuel Belli
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality, Life Promotion San Raffaele University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (A.d.I.); (S.B.)
- MEBIC Consortium, San Raffaele University, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Cristina
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality, Life Promotion San Raffaele University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (A.d.I.); (S.B.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Zagà
- Italian Society of Tabaccology (SITAB), 00136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Antonio de Iure
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality, Life Promotion San Raffaele University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (A.d.I.); (S.B.)
- Experimental Neurophysiology IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Cicconi
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (F.M.); (R.F.); (L.C.)
| | - Stefano Bonassi
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality, Life Promotion San Raffaele University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (A.d.I.); (S.B.)
- Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (F.M.); (R.F.); (L.C.)
| | - Patrizia Russo
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality, Life Promotion San Raffaele University, Via di Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy; (L.S.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (A.d.I.); (S.B.)
- MEBIC Consortium, San Raffaele University, 00166 Rome, Italy
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3
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Guerra-Doce E, Rihuete-Herrada C, Micó R, Risch R, Lull V, Niemeyer HM. Direct evidence of the use of multiple drugs in Bronze Age Menorca (Western Mediterranean) from human hair analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4782. [PMID: 37024524 PMCID: PMC10079862 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31064-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human hair dated to Late Prehistory is exceedingly rare in the Western Mediterranean. Archaeological excavations in the Bronze Age burial and cult cave of Es Càrritx, in Menorca (Balearic Islands) provided some human hair strands involved in a singular funerary rite. This finding offered the opportunity to explore the possible use of drug plants by Late Bronze Age people. Here we show the results of the chemical analyses of a sample of such hair using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). The alkaloids ephedrine, atropine and scopolamine were detected, and their concentrations estimated. These results confirm the use of different alkaloid-bearing plants by local communities of this Western Mediterranean island by the beginning of the first millennium cal BCE.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Guerra-Doce
- Departamento de Prehistoria, Arqueología, Antropología Social y Ciencias y Técnicas Historiográficas, Universidad de Valladolid, Plaza del Campus sn, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.
| | - C Rihuete-Herrada
- Departament de Prehistòria, Facultat de Lletres, Carrer de la Fortuna, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Micó
- Departament de Prehistòria, Facultat de Lletres, Carrer de la Fortuna, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Risch
- Departament de Prehistòria, Facultat de Lletres, Carrer de la Fortuna, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - V Lull
- Departament de Prehistòria, Facultat de Lletres, Carrer de la Fortuna, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - H M Niemeyer
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile
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4
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Bourscheid TG, Cardoso LC, Nascimento Santana MH, Cimó de Oliveira L, Reginato FZ, Machado MM, Valle de Bairros A. Use of snuff and its main constituents for religious purposes in an alternative community with shamanic practices in the south of Brazil. JOURNAL OF PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1556/2054.2022.00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Snuff is a fine aromatic powder composed of dried and thin leaves combined with tobacco, roots, peels, and seeds. Its use for indigenous religious purposes has appeared since pre-Columbian period in various localities of American continent. Practice is considered sacred in indigenous culture and suffered from trivialization of consumption due to influence of colonizers, which triggered subsequent industrialization of this complex for commercial purposes. Commercial snuff is essentially made from industrialized tobacco without addition of other medicinal plants and without therapeutic or spiritual purposes beyond its indiscriminate and inappropriate use, causing health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to make a review on snuff in Brazilian culture and a tour of a local community. In shamanism, plants are used as access vehicles to other religions of cosmos and its inhabitants, from where experts dialogue, bring songs, news, omens, and acquire new knowledge. The plants used in shamanic composition of snuff vary with the locality of indigenous villages in America and are essential ingredients of this interaction between humans and non-humans, a special mediator of intersubjective interactions. Several studies show the use and meaning of Erythroxylum coca used in different communities of the Amazon, besides Chacrona and Mariri, popular names of plants used in manufacture of Ayahuasca drink by doctrine Santo Daime. Because of this, it is essential to establish differences between recreational snuff and shamanic and their effects on body as well as studies on use of shamanic snuff should be directed according to their applications and plants employed by communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Guimarães Bourscheid
- Nucleus Applied to Toxicology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Corrêa Cardoso
- Nucleus Applied to Toxicology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Cimó de Oliveira
- Nucleus Applied to Toxicology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ziegler Reginato
- Nucleus Applied to Toxicology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
| | - Michel Mansur Machado
- Immunology and Applied Genetics Group (GIGA), Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, Brazil
| | - André Valle de Bairros
- Nucleus Applied to Toxicology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil
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Creager ANH. Tobacco Mosaic Virus and the History of Molecular Biology. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:39-55. [PMID: 35704746 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-100520-014520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The history of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) includes many firsts in science, beginning with its being the first virus identified. This review offers an overview of a history of research on TMV, with an emphasis on its close connections to the emergence and development of molecular biology. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Virology, Volume 9 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela N H Creager
- Department of History, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey; USA;
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Chemical Modification of Biomarkers through Accelerated Degradation: Implications for Ancient Plant Identification in Archaeo-Organic Residues. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27103331. [PMID: 35630808 PMCID: PMC9145360 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biochemical and biomolecular archaeology is increasingly used to elucidate the consumption, use, origin, and trade of plants in the past. However, it can be challenging to use biomarkers to identify the taxonomic origin of archaeological plants due to limited knowledge of molecular survival and degradation for many key plant compounds in archaeological contexts. To gain a fundamental understanding of the chemical alterations associated with chemical degradation processes in ancient samples, we conducted accelerated degradation experiments with essential oil derived from cedar (Cedrus atlantica) exposed to materials commonly found in the archaeological record. Using GC-MS and multivariate analysis, we detected a total of 102 compounds across 19 treatments that were classified into three groups. The first group comprised compounds that were abundant in fresh cedar oil but would be unlikely to remain in ancient residues due to rapid degradation. The second group consisted of compounds that remained relatively stable or increased over time, which could be potential biomarkers for identifying cedar in archaeological residues. Compounds in the third group were absent in fresh cedar oil but were formed during specific experiments that could be indicative for certain storage conditions. These results show that caution is warranted for applying biomolecular profiles of fresh plants to ancient samples and that carefully designed accelerated degradation experiments can, at least in part, overcome this limitation.
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7
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Wylie S, Li H. Historical and Scientific Evidence for the Origin and Cultural Importance to Australia's First-Nations Peoples of the Laboratory Accession of Nicotiana benthamiana, a Model for Plant Virology. Viruses 2022; 14:771. [PMID: 35458501 PMCID: PMC9027518 DOI: 10.3390/v14040771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is an indigenous plant species distributed across northern Australia. The laboratory accession (LAB) of N. benthamiana has become widely adopted as a model host for plant viruses, and it is distinct from other accessions morphologically, physiologically, and by having an attenuation-of-function mutation in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 (NbRdr1) gene, referred to as NbRdr1m. Recent historical evidence suggested LAB was derived from a 1936 collection by John Cleland at The Granites of the Northern Territory, although no scientific evidence was provided. We provide scientific evidence and further historical evidence supporting the origin of LAB as The Granites. Analysis of a herbarium specimen of N. benthamiana collected by Cleland in 1936 revealed that The Granites population contains plants heterozygous for the NbRdr1 locus, having both the functional NbRdr1 and the mutant NbRdr1m alleles. N. benthamiana was an important cultural asset actively utilised as the narcotic Pituri (chewing tobacco) by the Warlpiri Aboriginal people at the site, who prevented women of child-bearing age from consuming it. We propose that Aboriginal people selected some of the unique traits of LAB that have subsequently facilitated its adoption as a model plant, such as lack of seed dormancy, fast maturity, low nornicotine content, and gracility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Wylie
- Plant Biotechnology Research Group (Virology), Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia;
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8
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Duke D, Wohlgemuth E, Adams KR, Armstrong-Ingram A, Rice SK, Young DC. Earliest evidence for human use of tobacco in the Pleistocene Americas. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:183-192. [PMID: 34635825 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Current archaeological research on cultigens emphasizes the protracted and intimate human interactions with wild species that defined paths to domestication and, with certain plants, profoundly impacted humanity. Tobacco arguably has had more impact on global patterns in history than any other psychoactive substance, but how deep its cultural ties extend has been widely debated. Excavations at the Wishbone site, directed at the hearth-side activities of the early inhabitants of North America's desert west, have uncovered evidence for human tobacco use approximately 12,300 years ago, 9,000 years earlier than previously documented. Here we detail the preservation context of the site, discuss its cultural affiliation and suggest ways that the tobacco may have been used. The find has implications for our understanding of deep-time human use of intoxicants and its sociocultural intersection with food crop domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daron Duke
- Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Desert Branch, Henderson, NV, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | - D Craig Young
- Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Great Basin Branch, Carson City, NV, USA
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Letsinger AC, Gu Z, Yakel JL. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the hippocampal circuit: taming complexity. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:145-157. [PMID: 34916082 PMCID: PMC8914277 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus uses the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) to coordinate neuronal circuit activity while simultaneously influencing the function of non-neuronal cell types. The α7 nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) subtype is highly expressed throughout the hippocampus, has the highest calcium permeability compared with other subtypes of nAChRs, and is of high therapeutic interest due to its association with a variety of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we synthesize research describing α7 nAChR properties, function, and relationship to cognitive dysfunction within the hippocampal circuit and highlight approaches to help improve therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayland C. Letsinger
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Zhenglin Gu
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jerrel L. Yakel
- Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, Mail Drop F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, Durham, NC, 27709, USA,Corresponding Author,
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Okpalauwaekwe U, Nwoke CN, Messier J. Youth Demographic Characteristics and Risk Perception of Using Alternative Tobacco Products: An Analysis of the 2014-2015 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs Survey (CSTADS). Tob Use Insights 2021; 14:1179173X211058150. [PMID: 34866954 PMCID: PMC8637779 DOI: 10.1177/1179173x211058150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is a growing attraction by youth to alternative tobacco products (ATPs) such as e-cigarettes and hookahs. This study investigated risk perceptions and demographic characteristics associated with ATP use in grade 8-10 students. Methods Data were drawn from the 2014/15 cycle of the CSTADS. The analytic sample included 1819 students from a total pool of 42 094 students who completed the survey. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors (demographic characteristics and risk perception) associated with ATP use in the past 30 days. Results 12% of students in grade 8-10 self-identified as having used ATPs in the past 30-days, with a majority of students in grade 10 (56%). Male students had higher odds of reporting ATP use when compared to females. Although a lesser proportion of Indigenous students reported ATP use in comparison to White students (31% vs 61%), Indigenous students were 2.42 (1.49, 3.93) times as likely to use ATPs as White students. Students who perceived smoking hookah once in a while as "no to slight risk" were 1.58 (1.09, 2.28) times more likely to report ATP use than students who perceived "moderate to great risk." Also, students who perceived using e-cigarettes on a regular basis as "no to slight risk" were 2.21 (1.53, 3.21) times more likely to report ATP use as students who perceived "moderate-great risk." Conclusion A significant number of grade 8-10 students use ATPs, especially e-cigarettes, with the misconception of minimal health risks. There remains the need to do more to counteract the rise in social and epidemiological alternative tobacco use trends among the youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udoka Okpalauwaekwe
- Department of Academic Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Jacinthe Messier
- Independent Researcher in Indigenous Studies, Project Coordinator, Siksika First Nation Project, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Turner NJ, Geralda Armstrong C, Lepofsky D. Adopting a Root: Documenting Ecological and Cultural Signatures of Plant Translocations in Northwestern North America. AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/aman.13658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy J. Turner
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Canada
| | | | - Dana Lepofsky
- Department of Archaeology Simon Fraser University Canada
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12
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Charkhgard N, Razaghi E. Opiates Possibly Boosted Human Civilization. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2021; 15. [DOI: 10.5812/ijpbs.114491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
: Testosterone is a fundamental biological drive for human survival. Evidence documents an association between the evolutionary suppression of testosterone and the civilization processes, especially their socialization and family colonization abilities, among early humans. Interestingly, opiates suppress testosterone as a side effect. However, in clinical practice, clients undergoing opioid substitution therapy have subnormal, normal, or even above-normal testosterone. This paper discusses a possibility indicating that opiates promoted civilization processes among early humans. We further suggest that modern humans might have inherited the positive impact of opiates on early humans as a biological propensity for using opioids. Some users may use opioids for self-medication to decrease their extraordinarily high testosterone levels.
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Zimmermann M, Brownstein KJ, Pantoja Díaz L, Ancona Aragón I, Hutson S, Kidder B, Tushingham S, Gang DR. Metabolomics-based analysis of miniature flask contents identifies tobacco mixture use among the ancient Maya. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1590. [PMID: 33452410 PMCID: PMC7810889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81158-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A particular type of miniature ceramic vessel locally known as "veneneras" is occasionally found during archaeological excavations in the Maya Area. To date, only one study of a collection of such containers successfully identified organic residues through coupled chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. That study identified traces of nicotine likely associated with tobacco. Here we present a more complete picture by analyzing a suite of possible complementary ingredients in tobacco mixtures across a collection of 14 miniature vessels. The collection includes four different vessel forms and allows for the comparison of specimens which had previously formed part of museum exhibitions with recently excavated, untreated containers. Archaeological samples were compared with fresh as well as cured reference materials from two different species of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica). In addition, we sampled six more plants which are linked to mind-altering practices through Mesoamerican ethnohistoric or ethnographic records. Analyses were conducted using UPLC-MS metabolomics-based analytical techniques, which significantly expand the possible detection of chemical compounds compared to previous biomarker-focused studies. Results include the detection of more than 9000 residual chemical features. We trace, for the first time, the presence of Mexican marigold (Tagetes lucida) in presumptive polydrug mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Zimmermann
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, P.O. Box 644910, Pullman, WA, 99164-4910, USA.
| | - Korey J Brownstein
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646340, Pullman, WA, 99164-6340, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, Cummings Life Science Center, 920 E. 58th Street, Suite 1106, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Luis Pantoja Díaz
- Centro Regional Yucatán, National Institute of Anthropology and History, Col. Gonzalo Guerrero, Calle 10 #310-A, 97310, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Iliana Ancona Aragón
- Centro Regional Yucatán, National Institute of Anthropology and History, Col. Gonzalo Guerrero, Calle 10 #310-A, 97310, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Scott Hutson
- Department of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 211 Lafferty Hall, Lexington, KY, 40506-0027, USA
| | - Barry Kidder
- Department of Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 211 Lafferty Hall, Lexington, KY, 40506-0027, USA
| | - Shannon Tushingham
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, P.O. Box 644910, Pullman, WA, 99164-4910, USA
| | - David R Gang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646340, Pullman, WA, 99164-6340, USA
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Berlowitz I, Torres EG, Walt H, Wolf U, Maake C, Martin-Soelch C. " Tobacco Is the Chief Medicinal Plant in My Work": Therapeutic Uses of Tobacco in Peruvian Amazonian Medicine Exemplified by the Work of a Maestro Tabaquero. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:594591. [PMID: 33117182 PMCID: PMC7576958 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.594591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Harmful usage of tobacco is a public health problem of global concern and, in many countries, the main risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the geographical region believed to be tobacco’s historical birthplace, this plant is associated with a strikingly different usage and repute: Tobacco (especially Nicotiana rustica L.) in this area is described as a potent medicinal plant, used topically or via ingestion to treat a variety of health conditions. The goal of this transdisciplinary field study was to investigate clinical applications of the tobacco plant as per Amazonian medicine exemplified in the practice of a reputed Maestro Tabaquero, an Amazonian traditional healer whose medical specialization focuses on tobacco-based treatments. Methods Using a transdisciplinary clinical approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with the tabaquero applying the systematizing expert interview method, in order to map modes of preparation and administration, indications, contraindications, effects, risks, adverse effects, and systemic aspects of tobacco-based remedies. Results The informant’s descriptions revealed refined knowledge on this plant’s therapeutic properties and scope, safety profile, and application techniques. The main indications mentioned included “problems of the mind,” of the respiratory system, parasitic illnesses (intestinal/skin), gout, and Amazonian epistemic conditions described as spiritual-energetic in nature. A liquid remedy taken orally was his most commonly used preparation, with acute/sub-acute effects involving a pronounced psychoactive component (altered state of consciousness) and physiological response (emesis, nausea). A skilled tabaquero that knows how to dose, administer, and intervene in case of adverse effects was considered imperative for safe treatment delivery. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study employing a transdisciplinary clinical approach to examine therapeutic applications of tobacco by an Amazonian tabaquero. Our findings significantly contribute to the growing research literature on Amazonian medicine and emergent psychedelic-assisted therapies and could, in the long-term, open new treatment avenues in several domains. Forthcoming studies should assess toxicity/safety and clinical outcomes of patients receiving Amazonian tobacco-based treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Berlowitz
- Unit of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.,Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Heinrich Walt
- Department of Oral- and Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ursula Wolf
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Maake
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chantal Martin-Soelch
- Unit of Clinical and Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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15
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Brownstein KJ, Tushingham S, Damitio WJ, Nguyen T, Gang DR. An Ancient Residue Metabolomics-Based Method to Distinguish Use of Closely Related Plant Species in Ancient Pipes. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:133. [PMID: 32671097 PMCID: PMC7332879 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Residues from ancient artifacts can help identify which plant species were used for their psychoactive properties, providing important information regarding the deep-time co-evolutionary relationship between plants and humans. However, relying on the presence or absence of one or several biomarkers has limited the ability to confidently connect residues to particular plants. We describe a comprehensive metabolomics-based approach that can distinguish closely related species and provide greater confidence in species use determinations. An ~1430-year-old pipe from central Washington State not only contained nicotine, but also had strong evidence for the smoking of Nicotiana quadrivalvis and Rhus glabra, as opposed to several other species in this pre-contact pipe. Analysis of a post-contact pipe suggested use of different plants, including the introduced trade tobacco, Nicotiana rustica. Ancient residue metabolomics provides a new frontier in archaeo-chemistry, with greater precision to investigate the evolution of drug use and similar plant-human co-evolutionary dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korey J. Brownstein
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Shannon Tushingham
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - William J. Damitio
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Tung Nguyen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - David R. Gang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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16
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Chen X, Krug L, Yang H, Li H, Yang M, Berg G, Cernava T. Nicotiana tabacum seed endophytic communities share a common core structure and genotype-specific signatures in diverging cultivars. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:287-295. [PMID: 32071705 PMCID: PMC7013131 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A common core microbiome was found in seeds of diverging N. tabacum cultivars. Enterobacteriaceae accounted for the predominant fraction of this core microbiome. Cultivars from the same breeding line shared the highest number of bacterial taxa. Seed-endophytic communities were extended by distinct taxa in each cultivar.
Seed endophytes of crop plants have recently received increased attention due to their implications in plant health and the potential to be included in agro-biotechnological applications. While previous studies indicated that plants from the Solanaceae family harbor a highly diverse seed microbiome, genotype-specific effects on the community composition and structure remained largely unexplored. The present study revealed Enterobacteriaceae-dominated seed-endophytic communities in four Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivars originating from Brazil, China, and the USA. When the dissimilarity of bacterial communities was assessed, none of the cultivars showed significant differences in microbial community composition. Various unusual endophyte signatures were represented by Spirochaetaceae family members and the genera Mycobacterium, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus. The bacterial fraction shared by all cultivars was dominated by members of the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. In total, 29 OTUs were present in all investigated cultivars and accounted for 65.5% of the combined core microbiome reads. Cultivars from the same breeding line were shown to share a higher number of common OTUs than more distant lines. Moreover, the Chinese cultivar Yunyan 87 contained the highest number (33 taxa) of unique signatures. Our results indicate that a distinct proportion of the seed microbiome of N. tabacum remained unaffected by breeding approaches of the last century, while a substantial proportion co-diverged with the plant genotype. Moreover, they provide the basis to identify plant-specific endophytes that could be addressed for upcoming biotechnological approaches in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyulong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China
| | - Lisa Krug
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Hong Yang
- College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China
| | - Haoxi Li
- College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China
| | - Maofa Yang
- College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China
| | - Gabriele Berg
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Tomislav Cernava
- College of Tobacco Science, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Guizhou University, 550025 Guiyang, China.,Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/I, 8010 Graz, Austria
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17
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Syme KL, Hagen EH. Mental health is biological health: Why tackling "diseases of the mind" is an imperative for biological anthropology in the 21st century. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 171 Suppl 70:87-117. [PMID: 31762015 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The germ theory of disease and the attendant public health initiatives, including sanitation, vaccination, and antibiotic treatment, led to dramatic increases in global life expectancy. As the prevalence of infectious disease declines, mental disorders are emerging as major contributors to the global burden of disease. Scientists understand little about the etiology of mental disorders, however, and many of the most popular psychopharmacological treatments, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics, have only moderate-to-weak efficacy in treating symptoms and fail to target biological systems that correspond to discrete psychiatric syndromes. Consequently, despite dramatic increases in the treatment of some mental disorders, there has been no decrease in the prevalence of most mental disorders since accurate record keeping began. Many researchers and theorists are therefore endeavoring to rethink psychiatry from the ground-up. Anthropology, especially biological anthropology, can offer critical theoretical and empirical insights to combat mental illness globally. Biological anthropologists are unique in that we take a panhuman approach to human health and behavior and are trained to address each of Tinbergen's four levels of analysis as well as culture. The field is thus exceptionally well-situated to help resolve the mysteries of mental illness by integrating biological, evolutionary, and sociocultural perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen L Syme
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington
| | - Edward H Hagen
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington
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18
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Chambers E, Paschke T. Validation of a recommended practice for assessing “characterizing flavor” to meet requirements of the EU Tobacco Product Directive (2014/40/EU). J SENS STUD 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/joss.12511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Chambers
- Center for Sensory Analysis and Consumer BehaviorKansas State University Manhattan Kansas
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19
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Miller MJ, Albarracin-Jordan J, Moore C, Capriles JM. Chemical evidence for the use of multiple psychotropic plants in a 1,000-year-old ritual bundle from South America. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:11207-11212. [PMID: 31061128 PMCID: PMC6561276 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902174116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over several millennia, various native plant species in South America have been used for their healing and psychoactive properties. Chemical analysis of archaeological artifacts provides an opportunity to study the use of psychoactive plants in the past and to better understand ancient botanical knowledge systems. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze organic residues from a ritual bundle, radiocarbon dated to approximately 1,000 C.E., recovered from archaeological excavations in a rock shelter located in the Lípez Altiplano of southwestern Bolivia. The site is located at an elevation of ∼3,900 m above sea level and contains evidence of intermittent human occupations during the last 4,000 years. Chemical traces of bufotenine, dimethyltryptamine, harmine, and cocaine, including its degradation product benzoylecgonine, were identified, suggesting that at least three plants containing these compounds were part of the shamanic paraphernalia dating back 1,000 years ago, the largest number of compounds recovered from a single artifact from this area of the world, to date. This is also a documented case of a ritual bundle containing both harmine and dimethyltryptamine, the two primary ingredients of ayahuasca. The presence of multiple plants that come from disparate and distant ecological areas in South America suggests that hallucinogenic plants moved across significant distances and that an intricate botanical knowledge was intrinsic to pre-Columbian ritual practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie J Miller
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Archaeological Research Facility, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Juan Albarracin-Jordan
- Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas y Arqueológicas, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | | | - José M Capriles
- Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
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