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Berlowitz I, García Torres E, Ruiz Macedo JC, Wolf U, Maake C, Martin-Soelch C. Traditional Indigenous-Amazonian Therapy Involving Ceremonial Tobacco Drinking as Medicine: A Transdisciplinary Multi-Epistemic Observational Study. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2024:10901981231213348. [PMID: 39360499 DOI: 10.1177/10901981231213348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Although the tobacco plant has been employed as a medicinal and sacred herb by Indigenous cultures across the Americas, its usage drastically changed after the 15th-century colonial arrival; its large-scale commodification and global marketing once brought to Europe lead to hedonic and addictive uses harmful to health. As a consequence, tobacco smoking is now one of the largest public health problems worldwide. However, in the Peruvian Amazon, a region of origin of tobacco species, Indigenous healers still know how to use the plant for therapeutic purposes. Due to a general disregard of Indigenous knowledge and stigma, these uses have however not so far been clinically investigated. We hence conducted for the first time a clinical field study assessing a sample of patients treated by a traditional healer specialized in tobacco in the Peruvian Amazon (observational design, pilot study, N = 27). The study was conducted within a transdisciplinary and multi-epistemic medical frame, in close partnership with an Amazonian healer. We used validated self-report scales to quantitatively assess mental health variables before and after the weeklong treatment, and mixed-methods to report experienced effects. Paired-samples t-tests comparing pre- and post-treatment scores revealed significant reductions in anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and general symptom indicators. Experienced effects included initial physical discomfort, followed by psychologically or existentially/spiritually significant insights. Our findings point to a sophisticated therapeutic approach based on Indigenous knowledge of tobacco applications, which should be further investigated. The study also contributes to the burgeoning scientific field on therapeutic uses of contentious psychoactive plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Berlowitz
- University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Issa R, Al-Akayleh F, Alnsour L, Al-Sammarraie TR, Omari KW, Awwad SH. Antioxidant Activity and UHPLC-MS/MS Characterization of Polyphenol and Nicotine Content in Nicotiana Glauca Leaf Extracts: A Comparative Study of Conventional and Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction Methods. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2240. [PMID: 39204676 PMCID: PMC11359583 DOI: 10.3390/plants13162240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The leaves of Nicotiana glauca (N. glauca; Solanaceae) plant are a known, major human health concern. This study investigated the antioxidant activity and polyphenols composition of aerial parts of N. glauca collected from its wild habitat in Jordan, using Methanol-Conventional (MC) and deep eutectic solvents (DES) extraction methods in addition to nicotine content determination using UHPLC. Our results showed that the MC extract contains fewer total phenols and flavonoid content than the 90% DES extract, (0.1194 ± 0.009 and 0.311 ± 0.020 mg/mL equivalent to gallic acid) and (0.01084 ± 0.005 and 0.928 ± 0.09 mg/mL equivalent to rutin), respectively. Moreover, this study showed that the prepared MC extract contain 635.07 ppm nicotine, while the 90% DES extract contain 1194.91 ppm nicotine. Extracts prepared using the MC and the DES methods exhibited weak antioxidant activities; the highest was a 33% inhibition rate (equivalent to ascorbic acid), obtained by the 90% DES extract,. The performed UHPLC-MS/MS analysis in this study also revealed the presence of variations in the detected compounds between the two extraction methods. Furthermore, this study found that environmentally friendly DES extraction of N. glauca produced higher phenol and flavonoid content than the MC method; this highlights the superior efficiency and environmental benefits of sustainable chemistry methods for extracting valuable phytoconstituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Issa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center (PDRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman 19328, Jordan; (L.A.); (T.R.A.-S.)
| | - Faisal Al-Akayleh
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutics, Petra University, Amman 11196, Jordan
| | - Lilian Alnsour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center (PDRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman 19328, Jordan; (L.A.); (T.R.A.-S.)
| | - Tabarak R. Al-Sammarraie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center (PDRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman 19328, Jordan; (L.A.); (T.R.A.-S.)
| | - Khaled W. Omari
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait;
| | - Shady H. Awwad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11937, Jordan
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Zhang W, Pan X, Fu J, Cheng W, Lin H, Zhang W, Huang Z. Phytochemicals derived from Nicotiana tabacum L. plant contribute to pharmaceutical development. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1372456. [PMID: 38681197 PMCID: PMC11045950 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1372456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The Nicotiana tabacum L. plant, a medicinal resource, holds significant potential for benefiting human health, as evidenced by its use in Native American and ancient Chinese cultures. Modern medical and pharmaceutical studies have investigated that the abundant and distinctive function metabolites in tobacco including nicotine, solanesol, cembranoid diterpenes, essential oil, seed oil and other tobacco extracts, avoiding the toxic components of smoke, mainly have the anti-oxidation, anti-lipid production, pro-lipid oxidation, pro-insulin sensitivity, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis and antimicrobial activities. They showed potential pharmaceutical value mainly as supplements or substitutes for treating neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, inflammatory diseases including colitis, arthritis, sepsis, multiple sclerosis, and myocarditis, and metabolic syndrome including Obesity and fatty liver. This review comprehensively presents the research status and the molecular mechanisms of tobacco and its metabolites basing on almost all the English and Chinese literature in recent 20 years in the field of medicine and pharmacology. This review serves as a foundation for future research on the medicinal potential of tobacco plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenji Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tobacco Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement of Guangdong Province, Crops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tobacco Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement of Guangdong Province, Crops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Fu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenli Cheng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjuan Zhang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenrui Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tobacco Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement of Guangdong Province, Crops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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Rivera-García LG, Francis-Malavé AM, Castillo ZW, Uong CD, Wilson TD, Ferchmin PA, Eterovic V, Burton MD, Carrasquillo Y. Anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of 4R-tobacco cembranoid in a mouse model of inflammatory pain. J Inflamm (Lond) 2024; 21:2. [PMID: 38267952 PMCID: PMC10809744 DOI: 10.1186/s12950-023-00373-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
4R is a tobacco cembranoid that binds to and modulates cholinergic receptors and exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. Given the established function of the cholinergic system in pain and inflammation, we propose that 4R is also analgesic. Here, we tested the hypothesis that systemic 4R treatment decreases pain-related behaviors and peripheral inflammation via modulation of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChRs) in a mouse model of inflammatory pain. We elicited inflammation by injecting Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the hind paw of male and female mice. We then assessed inflammation-induced hypersensitivity to cold, heat, and tactile stimulation using the Acetone, Hargreaves, and von Frey tests, respectively, before and at different time points (2.5 h - 8d) after a single systemic 4R (or vehicle) administration. We evaluated the contribution of α7 nAChRs 4R-mediated analgesia by pre-treating mice with a selective antagonist of α7 nAChRs followed by 4R (or vehicle) administration prior to behavioral tests. We assessed CFA-induced paw edema and inflammation by measuring paw thickness and quantifying immune cell infiltration in the injected hind paw using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Lastly, we performed immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analyses of paw skin in α7 nAChR-cre::Ai9 mice to measure the expression of α7 nAChRs on immune subsets. Our experiments show that systemic administration of 4R decreases inflammation-induced peripheral hypersensitivity in male and female mice and inflammation-induced paw edema in male but not female mice. Notably, 4R-mediated analgesia and anti-inflammatory effects lasted up to 8d after a single systemic administration on day 1. Pretreatment with an α7 nAChR-selective antagonist prevented 4R-mediated analgesia and anti-inflammatory effects, demonstrating that 4R effects are via modulation of α7 nAChRs. We further show that a subset of immune cells in the hind paw expresses α7 nAChRs. However, the number of α7 nAChR-expressing immune cells is unaltered by CFA or 4R treatment, suggesting that 4R effects are independent of α7 nAChR-expressing immune cells. Together, our findings identify a novel function of the 4R tobacco cembranoid as an analgesic agent in both male and female mice that reduces peripheral inflammation in a sex-dependent manner, further supporting the pharmacological targeting of the cholinergic system for pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis G Rivera-García
- Division of Intramural Research National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 35 Convent Drive, Building 35A / Room 1E-410, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Adela M Francis-Malavé
- Division of Intramural Research National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 35 Convent Drive, Building 35A / Room 1E-410, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Zachary W Castillo
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Group, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas, Dallas, USA
| | - Calvin D Uong
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Group, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas, Dallas, USA
| | - Torri D Wilson
- Division of Intramural Research National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 35 Convent Drive, Building 35A / Room 1E-410, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - P A Ferchmin
- Department of Neuroscience, Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Vesna Eterovic
- Department of Neuroscience, Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Michael D Burton
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Group, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas, Dallas, USA
| | - Yarimar Carrasquillo
- Division of Intramural Research National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 35 Convent Drive, Building 35A / Room 1E-410, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- National Institute On Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 35 Convent Drive, Building 35A / Room 1E-410, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Berlowitz I, García Torres E, Maake C, Wolf U, Martin-Soelch C. Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine's Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:plants12020346. [PMID: 36679060 PMCID: PMC9863029 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Harmful usage of tobacco is a global public health problem associated with adverse health effects and addiction. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the native region of Nicotiana rustica L., this plant is used in remarkably different manners: it is considered a potent medicinal plant, applied in liquid form for oral ingestion to treat mental health problems, a common and ancient healing practice in this region. Using a transdisciplinary field research approach with mixed ethnopsychological methods, this work aimed to report for the first time a case study in this context. The intervention took place in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto) and involved ritual tobacco ingestion in a weeklong retreat-like frame, administered by a specialized traditional Amazonian healer. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with diagnosed mood, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders, as well as a chronic somatic condition. We applied qualitative experience-sampling during and quantitative symptom assessments pre- and post-treatment. Our findings offer a detailed description of the experiential therapeutic process during the treatment week and suggest clinically relevant improvements in patient well-being. This work is significant in view of the globally prevalent harmful uses of tobacco and the current scientific trend of revisiting herbal psychoactives (e.g., cannabis, psilocybin) for their therapeutic potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Berlowitz
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Research, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Caroline Maake
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ursula Wolf
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Mathew M, Thomas J. Tobacco-Based Vaccines, Hopes, and Concerns: A Systematic Review. Mol Biotechnol 2022:10.1007/s12033-022-00627-5. [PMID: 36528727 PMCID: PMC9759281 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases have vigorously devastated the global economy and health sector; cost-effective plant-based vaccines (PBV) can be the potential solution to withstand the current health economic crisis. The prominent role of tobacco as an efficient expression system for PBV has been well-established for decades, through this review we highlight the importance of tobacco-based vaccines (TBV) against evolving infectious diseases in humans. Studies focusing on the use of TBV for human infectious diseases were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and science direct from 1995 to 2021 using the keywords Tobacco-based vaccines OR transgenic tobacco OR Nicotiana benthamiana vaccines AND Infectious diseases or communicable diseases. We carried out a critical review of the articles and studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Of 976 studies identified, only 63 studies fulfilling the eligibility criteria were included, which focused on either the in vitro, in vivo, or clinical studies on TBV for human infectious diseases. Around 43 in vitro studies of 23 different infectious pathogens expressed in tobacco-based systems were identified and 23 in vivo analysis studies were recognized to check the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates while only 10 of these were subjected to clinical trials. Viral infectious pathogens were studied more than bacterial pathogens. From our review, it was evident that TBV can be an effective health strategy to combat the emerging viral infectious diseases which are very difficult to manage with the current health facilities. The timely administration of cost-effective TBV can prevent the outburst of viral infections, thereby can protect the global healthcare system to a greater extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mintu Mathew
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Kochi, Kerala India
| | - Jaya Thomas
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Kochi, Kerala India
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Fasakin OW, Oboh G, Ademosun AO, Lawal AO. The modulatory effects of alkaloid extracts of Cannabis sativa, Datura stramonium, Nicotiana tabacum and male Carica papaya on neurotransmitter, neurotrophic and neuroinflammatory systems linked to anxiety and depression. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:2447-2476. [PMID: 35665872 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the modulatory effects of alkaloid extracts of Cannabis sativa (CSAE), Datura stramonium (DSAE), Nicotiana tabacum (NTAE) and male Carica papaya (CMAE) on neurotransmitter, neurotrophic and neuro-inflammatory systems linked to anxiety and depression. Male Wistar rats were orally administered the alkaloid extracts in doses of 5, 50, 500, and 2000 mg/kg for 90 days. On day 91, neurobehavioural studies were evaluated, rats were sacrificed, brain hippocampus removed and tissue homogenate prepared. Biochemical, cytokine and neurotransmitter metabolisms were estimated in the hippocampus. Expressions of genes linked to anxiety and depression were evaluated by RT-qPCR. Results showed CSAE, NTAE and CMAE act as anxiolytic and antidepressant agents by depleting TNF-α, IL-1β and reactive oxygen species concentrations, and monoamine oxidase, angiotensin 1-converting enzyme and acetylcholinesterase activities while elevating IL-10 and dopamine concentrations and glutamate dehydrogenase activity at doses of 5, 50 and 500. Same doses of CSAE, NTAE and CMAE also depleted the gene expressions of GSK3β, JNK, NF-ĸB, and Nesfatin-1 while increasing expressions of CREB, BDNF, serotonin and Nrf2. However, administration of DSAE and 2000 mg/kg CSAE, NTAE and CMAE had adverse modulatory effects on the neurochemical concentrations and activities as well as the gene expressions of the evaluated neurotransmitter, neurotrophic and inflammatory systems. In conclusion, the study established the sub-chronic instrumentalization potential of CSAE, CMAE, and NTAE for anxiolytic and anti-depressive moods, though their use may be associated with dependence and addiction, which may result in more detrimental effects than any therapeutic potential they may proffer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olamide Wilson Fasakin
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, 340001, Nigeria
| | - Ganiyu Oboh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, 340001, Nigeria.
| | - Ayokunle Olubode Ademosun
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, 340001, Nigeria
| | - Akeem O Lawal
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, 340001, Nigeria
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Ratsch A, Bogossian F, Burmeister EA, Ryu B, Steadman KJ. Higher blood nicotine concentrations following smokeless tobacco (pituri) and cigarette use linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes for Central Australian Aboriginal pregnancies. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2157. [PMID: 36419022 PMCID: PMC9685874 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14609-4] [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: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In central Australia, Aboriginal women use wild tobacco plants, Nicotiana spp. (locally known as pituri) as a chewed smokeless tobacco, with this use continuing throughout pregnancy and lactation. Our aim was to describe the biological concentrations of nicotine and metabolites in samples from mothers and neonates and examine the relationships between maternal self-reported tobacco use and maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS Central Australian Aboriginal mothers (and their neonates) who planned to birth at the Alice Springs Hospital (Northern Territory, Australia) provided biological samples: maternal blood, arterial and venous cord blood, amniotic fluid, maternal and neonatal urine, and breast milk. These were analysed for concentrations of nicotine and five metabolites. RESULTS A sample of 73 women were enrolled who self-reported: no-tobacco use (n = 31), tobacco chewing (n = 19), or smoking (n = 23). Not all biological samples were obtained from all mothers and neonates. In those where samples were available, higher total concentrations of nicotine and metabolites were found in the maternal plasma, urine, breast milk, cord bloods and Day 1 neonatal urine of chewers compared with smokers and no-tobacco users. Tobacco-exposed mothers (chewers and smokers) with elevated blood glucose had higher nicotine and metabolite concentrations than tobacco-exposed mothers without elevated glucose, and this was associated with increased neonatal birthweight. Neonates exposed to higher maternal nicotine levels were more likely to be admitted to Special Care Nursery. By Day 3, urinary concentrations in tobacco-exposed neonates had reduced from Day 1, although these remained higher than concentrations from neonates in the no-tobacco group. CONCLUSIONS This research provides the first evidence that maternal pituri chewing results in high nicotine concentrations in a wide range of maternal and neonatal biological samples and that exposure may be associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Screening for the use of all tobacco and nicotine products during pregnancy rather than focusing solely on smoking would provide a more comprehensive assessment and contribute to a more accurate determination of tobacco and nicotine exposure. This knowledge will better inform maternal and foetal care, direct attention to targeted cessation strategies and ultimately improve long-term clinical outcomes, not only in this vulnerable population, but also for the wider population. NOTE TO READERS In this research, the central Australian Aboriginal women chose the term 'Aboriginal' to refer to themselves, and 'Indigenous' to refer to the broader group of Australian First Peoples. That choice has been maintained in the reporting of the research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Ratsch
- Research Services, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services, Nissen Street, Hervey Bay, QLD 4655 Australia
| | - Fiona Bogossian
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4558 Australia
| | - Elizabeth A. Burmeister
- Research Services, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services, Nissen Street, Hervey Bay, QLD 4655 Australia
| | - BoMi Ryu
- Department of Marine Life Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243 Republic of Korea
| | - Kathryn J. Steadman
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102 Australia
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Politi M, Tresca G, Menghini L, Ferrante C. Beyond the Psychoactive Effects of Ayahuasca: Cultural and Pharmacological Relevance of Its Emetic and Purging Properties. PLANTA MEDICA 2022; 88:1275-1286. [PMID: 34794194 DOI: 10.1055/a-1675-3840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The herbal preparation ayahuasca has been an important part of ritual and healing practices, deployed to access invisible worlds in several indigenous groups in the Amazon basin and among mestizo populations of South America. The preparation is usually known to be composed of two main plants, Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, which produce both hallucinogenic and potent purging and emetic effects; currently, these are considered its major pharmacological activities. In recent decades, the psychoactive and visionary effect of ayahuasca has been highly sought after by the shamanic tourism community, which led to the popularization of ayahuasca use globally and to a cultural distancing from its traditional cosmological meanings, including that of purging and emesis. Further, the field of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology has also produced relatively limited data linking the phytochemical diversity of ayahuasca with the different degrees of its purging and emetic versus psychoactive effects. Similarly, scientific interest has also principally addressed the psychological and mental health effects of ayahuasca, overlooking the cultural and pharmacological importance of the purging and emetic activity. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the understudied purging and emetic effect of ayahuasca herbal preparation. It firstly focuses on reviewing the cultural relevance of emesis and purging in the context of Amazonian traditions. Secondly, on the basis of the main known phytochemicals described in the ayahuasca formula, a comprehensive pharmacological evaluation of their emetic and purging properties is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Politi
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
- Research Department, Center for Drug Addiction Treatment and Research on Traditional Medicines - Takiwasi, Tarapoto, Peru
| | - Giorgia Tresca
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Luigi Menghini
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudio Ferrante
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy
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Rumlerová T, Kube E, Simonet N, Friso F, Politi M. Use of tobacco purge in a therapeutic community for the treatment of substance use disorders. ANTHROPOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/anoc.12169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Rumlerová
- Department of Psychology Palacky University Vodární 6 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Eric Kube
- Independent Researcher 248 Lakeview Drive Rd Highland Lake United States
| | - Nahuel Simonet
- Independent Researcher Route de la Poudrière 27 Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Fabio Friso
- Center for Drug Addiction Treatment and Research on Traditional Medicines – Takiwasi Prolongación Alerta 466, Tarapoto Peru
| | - Matteo Politi
- Center for Drug Addiction Treatment and Research on Traditional Medicines – Takiwasi Prolongación Alerta 466 Tarapoto Peru
- Department of Pharmacy University of Chieti‐Pescara Via Vestini 31 Chieti Scalo Italy
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Berlowitz I, Egger K, Cumming P. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition by Plant-Derived β-Carbolines; Implications for the Psychopharmacology of Tobacco and Ayahuasca. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:886408. [PMID: 35600851 PMCID: PMC9121195 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.886408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are flavin-containing amine oxidoreductases responsible for metabolism of many biogenic amine molecules in the brain and peripheral tissues. Whereas serotonin is the preferred substrate of MAO-A, phenylethylamine is metabolized by MAO-B, and dopamine and tyramine are nearly ambivalent with respect to the two isozymes. β-Carboline alkaloids such as harmine, harman(e), and norharman(e) are MAO inhibitors present in many plant materials, including foodstuffs, medicinal plants, and intoxicants, notably in tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) and in Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine used in the Amazonian ayahuasca brew. The β-carbolines present in B. caapi may have effects on neurogenesis and intrinsic antidepressant properties, in addition to potentiating the bioavailability of the hallucinogen N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is often present in admixture plants of ayahuasca such as Psychotria viridis. Tobacco also contains physiologically relevant concentrations of β-carbolines, which potentially contribute to its psychopharmacology. However, in both cases, the threshold of MAO inhibition sufficient to interact with biogenic amine neurotransmission remains to be established. An important class of antidepressant medications provoke a complete and irreversible inhibition of MAO-A/B, and such complete inhibition is almost unattainable with reversible and competitive inhibitors such as β-carbolines. However, the preclinical and clinical observations with synthetic MAO inhibitors present a background for obtaining a better understanding of the polypharmacologies of tobacco and ayahuasca. Furthermore, MAO inhibitors of diverse structures are present in a wide variety of medicinal plants, but their pharmacological relevance in many instances remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Berlowitz
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Ilana Berlowitz,
| | - Klemens Egger
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul Cumming
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Berlowitz I, O'Shaughnessy DM, Heinrich M, Wolf U, Maake C, Martin-Soelch C. Teacher plants - Indigenous Peruvian-Amazonian dietary practices as a method for using psychoactives. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 286:114910. [PMID: 34933085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Indigenous groups of the Amazon have developed intricate methods for the application of psychoactives, among which particularly the dieta or diet method of Peruvian-Amazonian traditional medicine stands out. It is a retreat-like intervention involving lengthy periods of social, behavioural, and alimentary restrictions, while ingesting specially prepared plant substances. The interplay of the dietary conditions and plants ingested sensitizes the dieter to receive healing, strength, guidance, and knowledge. From a clinical scientific point of view, the method has remained largely underexplored, but seems more pertinent than ever given the increasing interest in Amazonian psychoactive preparations including ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) and the burgeoning field of psychedelic-assisted therapies in general. AIM OF THE STUDY This study offers a descriptive account and emic interpretation of the Peruvian-Amazonian dieta. More specifically we document in detail the procedure, its context and purpose of application, effects, modes of action, adverse effects, and risks, from the perspectives of a sample of Peruvian traditional healers. The Peruvian-Amazonian dieta is a multi-purpose method for making use of medicinal plants, many of which (but not all), are psychoactive; the current work especially focuses on its therapeutic applications in conjunction with psychoactives. METHODS We interviewed 16 healers working in the Ucayali, San Martín, and Loreto provinces of Peru using a semi-structured interview approach. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The extensive data derived from these interviews were analysed by means of computer-assisted manifest qualitative content analysis using a theory-advancing approach. Over 500 coded text segments were categorized, resulting in 7 main theme clusters and corresponding sub-themes. RESULTS The interviewed healers described a complex intervention with multifaceted applications (treatment, prevention, training) and effects in various domains (body, mind, spirit, energy). The process was portrayed as transformative, with benefits attributed to the effects of the so-called teacher plants in conjunction with the diet's conditions, along with the skill of the healer guiding the intervention. Further, a detailed risk assessment revealed sophisticated safety measures and tools designed to address adverse responses. The importance of adequate training of the healer that administers the diet was particularly highlighted in this context. CONCLUSIONS The dieta is a central therapeutic concept and tool in Peruvian-Amazonian traditional medicine and a unique method for using psychoactive plants. Multidisciplinary health research that includes traditional treatment methods from Indigenous cultures, Amazonian and other, should not be neglected in the current global interest in psychedelic therapies; such research may in the long-term contribute to a more inclusive psychedelic research paradigm as well as healthcare practice in countries where rich traditional healing systems exist, and perhaps beyond. It may also contribute to the recognition of the Indigenous healers as not only historical forerunners, but also current leading experts in psychedelic medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Berlowitz
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | | | | | - Ursula Wolf
- Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Maake
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Elgorashi EE, Eldeen IMS, Makhafola TJ, Eloff JN, Verschaeve L. Genotoxic effects of Dukhan: A smoke bath from the wood of Acacia seyal used traditionally by Sudanese women. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 285:114868. [PMID: 34826541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE Smoke from the wood of Acacia seyal Delile has been used by Sudanese women for making a smoke bath locally called Dukhan. The ritual is performed to relieve rheumatic pain, smooth skin, heal wounds and achieve general body relaxation. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of the smoke condensate using cyclooxygenase -1 (COX-1) and -2 (COX-2) as well as its potential genotoxic effects using the bacterial-based Ames test and the mammalian cells-based micronucleus/cytome and comet assays. MATERIAL AND METHODS The smoke was prepared in a similar way to that commonly used traditionally by Sudanese women then condensed using a funnel. Cyclooxygenase assay was used to evaluate its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The neutral red uptake assay was conducted to determine the range of concentrations in the mammalian cells-based assays. The Ames, cytome and comet assays were used to assess its potential adverse (long-term) effects. RESULTS The smoke condensate did not inhibit the cyclooxygenases at the highest concentration tested. All smoke condensate concentrations tested in the Salmonella/microsome assay induced mutation in both TA98 and TA100 in a dose dependent manner. A significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds was observed in the cytome assay as well as in the % DNA damage in the comet assay. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicated a dose dependent genotoxic potential of the smoke condensate in the bacterial and human C3A cells and may pose a health risk to women since the smoke bath is frequently practised. The study highlighted the need for further rigorous assessment of the risks associated with the smoke bath practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esam E Elgorashi
- Toxicology and Ethnoveterinary Medicine, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Ibrahim M S Eldeen
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, University of Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia; Faculty of Forestry, University of Khartoum, Shambat, 13314, Sudan.
| | - Tshepiso J Makhafola
- Centre for Quality of Health and Living, Central University of Technology, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 20539, South Africa.
| | - Jacobus N Eloff
- Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Luc Verschaeve
- Sciensano (Formerly Scientific Institute of Public Health), Risk and Health Impact Assessment, Juliette Wytsmanstreet 14, Brussels, 1050, Belgium.
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14
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Tobacco Smoking and Liver Cancer Risk: Potential Avenues for Carcinogenesis. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:5905357. [PMID: 34925509 PMCID: PMC8683172 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5905357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Smoking a cigarette generates over 4000 chemicals that have a deleterious impact on each part of the human body. It produces three main severe effects on the liver organ: oncogenic, immunological, and indirect or direct toxic effects. It results in the production of cytotoxic substances, which raises fibrosis and necro-inflammation. Additionally, it also directs the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α) and interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6) that will be responsible for the chronic liver injury. Furthermore, it gives rise to secondary polycythemia and successively raises the turnover and mass of red cells, which might be a common factor responsible for the development of oxidative stress in the liver due to iron overload. It also produces chemicals that are having oncogenic properties and raises the risk of liver cancer especially in sufferers of chronic hepatitis C. Smoking modulates both humoral and cell-mediated responses by restricting the proliferation of lymphocytes and inducing their apoptosis and ultimately decreasing the surveillance of cancer cells. Moreover, it has been determined that heavy smoking impacts the response of hepatitis C patients to interferon (IFN) therapy through different mechanisms, which can be improved by phlebotomy. Efforts are being made in different nations in decreasing the prevalence of smoking to improve premature death and ill effects of their nation's individuals.
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Hu Z, Pan Z, Yang L, Wang K, Yang P, Xu Z, Yu H. Metabolomics analysis provides new insights into the medicinal value of flavonoids in tobacco leaves. Mol Omics 2021; 17:620-629. [PMID: 34137416 DOI: 10.1039/d1mo00092f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco is a traditional Chinese medicine containing a variety of biologically active substances. In addition to being used to make cigarettes, tobacco is also a vastly underdeveloped medicinal resource. In order to identify and clarify the biological activities and medicinal value of tobacco leaves, the metabolomes of tobacco leaves were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based on multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). In total, 1169 metabolites were identified and quantified. The results showed that the metabolic profiles of the tobacco cultivars K326 and Yun87 are similar to each other but different from that of Hongda. Moreover, the curing process affects the metabolic profiles of tobacco leaves. Flavonoids are the largest class of metabolites in tobacco leaves. Flavonoids have multiple biological functions; for example, they can promote or inhibit inflammation. We found that quercetin provides anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the il-1β mRNA expression, while glycitin and neohesperidin can promote il-1β and il-6 production. Our results provide in-depth insights into the medical uses and biological mechanisms of tobacco leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuojian Hu
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Anhui Tobacco Industrial Co., Ltd., 9 Tianda Road, Hefei 230088, China. and Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021 Guangxi, China
| | - Ziyue Pan
- Minhang Hospital & Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
| | - Lujie Yang
- Minhang Hospital & Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
| | - Ke Wang
- Minhang Hospital & Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
| | - Pengyuan Yang
- Minhang Hospital & Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Anhui Tobacco Industrial Co., Ltd., 9 Tianda Road, Hefei 230088, China.
| | - Hongxiu Yu
- Minhang Hospital & Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China.
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Xie D, Yao L, Huang Y, Wu S, Ma L, Li Y, Wang W. Anxiolytic Effect of Two Tobacco Essential Oils ( Nicotiana tabacum Linn.) on Mice. Molecules 2021; 26:4171. [PMID: 34299447 PMCID: PMC8306096 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum Linn.) is a famous traditional herb used in folk medicine. The essential oils of tobacco have been demonstrated in modern studies to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, while its anxiolytic effect has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of Yunnan tobacco essential oil (YTO) and Zimbabwe tobacco essential oil (ZTO) on mice. The constituents of YTO and ZTO were analyzed by GC/MS. The anxiolytic effect of YTO and ZTO (0.1%, 1%, and 10%, v/v) on male ICR mice was evaluated in the light-dark box test (LDB) and the elevated plus maze test (EPM) test via inhalation and transdermal administration. After the behavioral tests, salivary corticosterone levels in mice were measured. The behavioral analysis showed that the administration of both YTO and ZTO elevated the time that the mice spent in the light chamber in the LDB test compared to the untreated control. In the EPM test, YTO and ZTO increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries into the open arms. In addition, both YTO and ZTO significantly decreased salivary corticosterone levels in mice (p ≤ 0.001). In summary, our results demonstrated that inhalation and transdermal administration of both YTO and ZTO showed anxiolytic effect on male ICR mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danqing Xie
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (D.X.); (L.Y.); (L.M.)
- R&D Center for Aromatic Plants, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lei Yao
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (D.X.); (L.Y.); (L.M.)
- R&D Center for Aromatic Plants, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Huabao Flavours & Fragrances Co., Ltd., 1299 Yecheng Road, Shanghai 201821, China; (Y.H.); (S.W.)
| | - Shuaifan Wu
- Huabao Flavours & Fragrances Co., Ltd., 1299 Yecheng Road, Shanghai 201821, China; (Y.H.); (S.W.)
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (D.X.); (L.Y.); (L.M.)
- R&D Center for Aromatic Plants, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (D.X.); (L.Y.); (L.M.)
- R&D Center for Aromatic Plants, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wencui Wang
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; (D.X.); (L.Y.); (L.M.)
- R&D Center for Aromatic Plants, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
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O'Shaughnessy DM, Berlowitz I. Amazonian Medicine and the Psychedelic Revival: Considering the "Dieta". Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:639124. [PMID: 34149407 PMCID: PMC8210416 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.639124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In Peruvian Amazonian medicine, plant diets (dietas) are a fundamental and highly flexible technique with a variety of uses: from treating and preventing illness, to increasing strength and resilience, to rites of passage, to learning even medicine itself. Many of the plants used in diets are psychoactive; for example, one now well-known plant that can be dieted is Banisteriopsis caapi—the vine also used in the psychoactive brew ayahuasca. The use of ayahuasca has attracted increasing clinical attention towards Amazonian medicine in recent decades, and much work has focused on the potent DMT-containing ayahuasca brew, thus placing the tradition within the purview of psychedelic science. Aims: In comparison to ayahuasca, the properties of diets have been studied less often. Our work draws on data from Amazonian healers to examine plant diets as medical practices, while also considering their fit within the “set and setting framework” that is central to psychedelic research. We argue that the framework is not sufficiently broad for understanding diets, and thus the investigation aimed to expand the conceptual field of Amazonian medicine, particularly in the context of a renewed psychedelic science and its theoretical concepts. Design: We used qualitative data from interviews with Amazonian healers, applying a thematic analysis and contrasting findings with the available literature. Setting: Interviews were conducted in various locations in the San Martín province of Peru between 2015 and 2017. Participants: We selected and interviewed eight healers who had been extensively trained in traditional Amazonian medicine. Measures: Semi-structured interviews were used to gain insight into the healers’ personal experiences with plant diets. Conclusions: Diets are complex but understudied medical practices that should not be explained by reference to pharmacology or psychology only. Intercultural and interdisciplinary research programmes are called for in order to not only better understand plant diets, but traditional Amazonian medicine on the whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M O'Shaughnessy
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Ilana Berlowitz
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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O'Shaughnessy DM, Berlowitz I, Rodd R, Sarnyai Z, Quirk F. Within-treatment changes in a novel addiction treatment program using traditional Amazonian medicine. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 2021; 11:2045125320986634. [PMID: 33717431 PMCID: PMC7841703 DOI: 10.1177/2045125320986634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The therapeutic use of psychedelics is regaining scientific momentum, but similarly psychoactive ethnobotanical substances have a long history of medical (and other) uses in indigenous contexts. Here we aimed to evaluate patient outcomes in a residential addiction treatment center that employs a novel combination of Western and traditional Amazonian methods. METHODS The study was observational, with repeated measures applied throughout treatment. All tests were administered in the center, which is located in Tarapoto, Peru. Data were collected between 2014 and 2015, and the study sample consisted of 36 male inpatients who were motivated to seek treatment and who entered into treatment voluntarily. Around 58% of the sample was from South America, 28% from Europe, and the remaining 14% from North America. We primarily employed repeated measures on a psychological test battery administered throughout treatment, measuring perceived stress, craving frequency, mental illness symptoms, spiritual well-being, and physical and emotional health. Addiction severity was measured on intake, and neuropsychological performance was assessed in a subsample from intake to at least 2 months into treatment. RESULTS Statistically significant and clinically positive changes were found across all repeated measures. These changes appeared early in the treatment and were maintained over time. Significant improvements were also found for neuropsychological functioning. CONCLUSION These results provide evidence for treatment safety in a highly novel addiction treatment setting, while also suggesting positive therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M O'Shaughnessy
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Ilana Berlowitz
- Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Robin Rodd
- Division of Social Sciences, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zoltán Sarnyai
- Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Discovery, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Frances Quirk
- New England Institute of Healthcare Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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