Effects of acute administration of Ayahuasca on the oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in rats

Introduction: The ayahuasca have legal authorization for religious use and scientific research. There are few published studies to determine their neurotoxic risk. Objective: Evaluate the potential toxicity of ayahuasca in Wistar rats on the neuronal apoptosis and its relation to systemic effects flags of oxidative stress. Method: Neurotoxicity was assessed by ayahuasca occurrence of neuronal apoptosis by fluorescence of Caspase-3 and by TUNEL assay. During 21 days, by gavage, twelve Wistar rats received 2 ml of 50% ayahuasca and the control group received 2 ml of water. Glutathione, malonaldehyde and vitamin E analyzes were performed to evaluate serum and hepatic lipid peroxidation as well as creatinine and urea analyzes for assessing kidney function. Results: The caspase-3 showed no differences between the two groups. The values of serum MDA, serum glutathione and hepatic vitamin E showed a statistically significant reduction in the group treated with ayahuasca. Rats treated with ayahuasca also had higher mean value statistically significant apoptotic neurons, measured by TUNEL assay. Conclusions: The results of this research indicate the presence of a process of oxidative stress in rats treated with ayahuasca, with statistically significant findings neuronal apoptosis assay with TUNEL. The reduced levels of serum MDA in ayahuasca group could point to a probable neuroprotective effect, however were also accompanied by a reduction in GSH and vitamin E, which indicates the occurrence of increased oxidative stress in this group.