Harmala Alkaloids Identify Ayahausca Intoxication in a Urine Drug Screen. Issue 4 (19th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pope, Jeffrey D; Choy, Kay Weng; Drummer, Olaf H; Schneider, Hans G
• Is Part Of: Journal of analytical toxicology. Volume 43:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: e23
• Page End: e27
• Publication Date: 2018-12-19
• Subjects: Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Toxicity testing -- Periodicals; 615.907
• DOI: 10.1093/jat/bky105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-4760

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Ayahausca is an ethnobotanical drink of South America and the compound dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is primarily responsible for the hallucinogenic effects. DMT has a short half-life and its detection in urinary drug screens is challenging. We investigate a simple alternate approach to detect ayahuasca consumption by relying on other constituents of the drink, the β-carboline harmala alkaloids. Methods: Three commercially sourced harmala alkaloids were characterized and added to a non-targeted high-resolution mass spectrometry urine drug screening method. All analyses were performed on a Waters Xevo G2-XS LC-QTof, in positive electrospray ionization mode. The mass detector was operated in MS E mode and data processed with UNIFI™ software. A urine specimen from a patient suspected to have consumed ayahuasca was analyzed by a non-targeted drug screen. Results: The harmala alkaloids: harmine, harmaline and tetrohydroharmaline (THH) were characterized and their detection data added to the toxicology screening library. Harmaline and THH were detected in the patient's urine specimen. Conclusion: The inclusion of the harmala alkaloids into the drug screen method library may enable the detection of ayahuasca use in patients that undergo non-targeted drug screen.