Chacruna (Psychotria viridis)
A plain-language profile of chacruna (Psychotria viridis): its role as the DMT-containing leaf in ayahuasca, why the brew differs from DMT alone, risks and legal context.
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Documented analytical data
Each group below is one study's measurement of the stated specimen or preparation. It is not a typical value for the species or product, varies between specimens, and says nothing about effects or safety. 3 values from 1 source.
Chambers MI, Appley MG, Longo CM, Musah RA. Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Ay... (3 values)
Source: Chambers MI, Appley MG, Longo CM, Musah RA. Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Ayahuasca Brews by Ambient Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. ACS Omega 2020;5:28547-28554. DOI 10.1021/acsomega.0c03196. Read 2026-10-22. Laboratory: Dept. of Chemistry, University at Albany (SUNY), Albany, New York, USA. Method: DART-HRMS (IonSense DART-SVP + JEOL AccuTOF), internal standard N,N-diethyltryptamine; 7 calibrators 10-150 mg/L. Date: varies by row.
| Specimen or preparation | Analyte | Value | What it is | Sample size and scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| laboratory-prepared aqueous acidified brew, DMT source P. viridis, MAOI source B. caapi (authors state the brews were made acidic and not fit for human consumption) | DMT | 48.3 mg/L (brew volume) | (reported) | 3 days (explicit N not stated). single preparation (mean of analyses on three different days); mean; SD 9.6 |
| laboratory-prepared aqueous acidified brew, DMT source P. viridis, MAOI source P. harmala (authors state the brews were made acidic and not fit for human consumption) | DMT | 45.7 mg/L (brew volume) | (reported) | 3 days (explicit N not stated). single preparation (mean of analyses on three different days); mean; SD 7.2 |
| P. viridis plant material used for the brew above (with B. caapi) | DMT | 0.94 mg/g (plant material (estimated by the authors from brew concentration, not measured directly in the plant)) | (calculated) | 3 days (explicit N not stated). single preparation, back-calculated |
Safety first. Chacruna is usually discussed as one ingredient of ayahuasca, a brew that contains plant compounds that block an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO). A 2026 case report describes severe, life-threatening serotonin syndrome after ayahuasca was followed by other serotonin-affecting products. [1] If someone feels very unwell after taking a plant brew, call 911 in the US or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222: poisoning: what to do first. This page does not describe preparation or growing.
What chacruna is
Chacruna (also written chacrona, and rainha) is a shrub whose accepted name in the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy is Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav., in the coffee family (Rubiaceae). [2][3] Its leaves are rich in N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). [3] Do not confuse the plant, the compound and the brew: chacruna is a plant, DMT is one compound in it, and ayahuasca is a brew traditionally made from two plants. See DMT: compound guide and DMT vs ayahuasca.Role in ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is traditionally prepared from the liana Banisteriopsis caapi and the leaves of Psychotria viridis. Its psychoactive properties derive mainly from DMT, while the vine's β-carbolines inhibit MAO-A, preventing DMT's metabolic breakdown and allowing oral administration. [4] By contrast, DMT or 5-MeO-DMT given alone is generally administered by inhalation, intranasal or intravenous routes in research. [4] So the leaf and the brew are not interchangeable with isolated DMT. A 2026 botanical review also found that other plants have been reported in ayahuasca preparation, and that two P. viridis ethnotaxa (named plant types) are recorded alongside 119 for the vine; it also notes other leaf species with varying evidence. [5] Vine and related pages: ayahuasca vine and chaliponga.Traditional context
The sacred brew is used by Indigenous communities in the Amazon and by syncretic religious groups in Brazil. [3] Traditions belong to specific peoples and lineages; this page does not reproduce ceremonies or recipes. See ayahuasca: traditional preparation, research and safety and Indigenous traditions, ethics and conservation.What research shows
Evidence labels: promising but limited, insufficient evidence, preclinical.- Chacruna alone: Proper evidence not found. We found no human clinical trials of the leaf alone.
- Ayahuasca (the brew). A 2024 review says there are few controlled studies, with small samples, single doses and short follow-ups. [6] A small randomized trial of 29 patients with treatment-resistant depression found a higher response with ayahuasca at day seven (64% versus 27% with placebo): promising but limited. [7]
- Chemical variability. In a clonal population grown under different conditions across seasons, DMT concentrations did not vary significantly, though other compounds did. [8] That is one study of one clone; it does not show that every plant or brew has consistent DMT content.
Risks and special groups
- Serotonin syndrome and medicine interactions. The MAOI content of ayahuasca predisposes to serotonergic toxicity when combined with other serotonin-affecting agents. [1] Ask a prescriber and do not stop prescribed medicines on your own: how interactions work.
- Poisoning reports. A 2025 case report describes a 24-year-old man with delirium and stupor whose blood showed ayahuasca components along with other drugs. [9]
- Heart disease and mental health. Data are lacking for people with cardiovascular disease. [10] Trials exclude people with psychosis or bipolar disorder as a precaution. [11]
- Pregnancy. Effects of psychedelic drugs in pregnancy are not well understood. [11]
Legal status
Not legal advice; laws change. The US federal Schedule I list (21 CFR 1308.11, read 2026-10-22) names dimethyltryptamine (DMT). [12] The text of that list does not name Psychotria viridis or ayahuasca. How the plant or brew is treated in the US, Brazil, Peru and elsewhere was not read from an official source: not verified. See legal status by country.Frequently asked questions
Is chacruna the same as DMT?
No. Chacruna is a plant whose leaves contain DMT, and DMT is one compound. [3]
Is chacruna the same as ayahuasca?
No. Ayahuasca is a brew traditionally made from the vine and the leaves. [4]
Why is the vine paired with the leaf?
A review says the vine's β-carbolines inhibit MAO-A, which prevents DMT's breakdown and allows oral administration. [4]
Is chacruna legal?
Not verified. DMT is on the US federal Schedule I list; the plant is not named there. [12]
Is it dangerous with antidepressants?
Ayahuasca has been linked to serotonin syndrome in combination with other serotonin-affecting agents. Talk with a prescriber. [1]
References
- Pack S et al. Severe Serotonin Syndrome With Acute Respiratory Failure Following Ayahuasca and Dextromethorphan Use: A Case Report. Cureus. 2026;18(8):e114211. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- GBIF Secretariat, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, Psychotria viridis. Read 2026-10-22.
- The mitogenomic landscape of Banisteriopsis caapi (Malpighiaceae), the sacred liana used for ayahuasca preparation. Genet Mol Biol. 2024. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Ayahuasca and Its Main Component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) for the Treatment of Mental Disorders. Biomedicines. 2026. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Unveiling ayahuasca: Comprehensive Study of Botanical and Chemical Diversity. J Ethnopharmacol. 2026. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Dos Santos RG, Hallak JEC. Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects. CNS Spectr. 2024;30(1):e2. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Palhano-Fontes F et al. Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Psychol Med. 2019;49(4):655-663. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Influence of environmental conditions and seasonality on the metabolome and lipidome of Psychotria viridis leaves. Plant J. 2025. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Intoxication Associated with Ayahuasca Consumption, Characterization, and Comparative Analysis of the Beverage's Components: A Case Report. Rev Colomb Psiquiatr. 2025. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- Wsol A. Cardiovascular safety of psychedelic medicine: current status and future directions. Pharmacol Rep. 2023;75(6):1362-1380. Read 2026-10-22 (abstract on PubMed).
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs. Read 2026-10-22.
- US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 1308.11 Schedule I. Read 2026-10-22.