«Science is beginning to seriously study yagé alkaloids. Among them, harmine shows promising effects in the laboratory: apoptosis, tumor blocking, epigenetic regulation.
In times when the pharmaceutical industry and the spiritual imaginary compete to offer miraculous solutions, the word “cure” should be used with extreme caution. Especially when talking about cancer. In this context, harmine - one of the alkaloids present in Banisteriopsis caapi, the main component of the traditional Amazonian concoction - has captured the attention of modern biomedical research.
But what does the science really say, and is there a basis for considering harmine as an antitumor agent, or is it just another promise inflated by psychedelic enthusiasm? This article seeks to answer from evidence, not hope.
What is harmine?
Harmine is a β-carboline alkaloid with the capacity to inhibit enzymes such as monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), which explains part of its role as a reversible inhibitor in the context of DMT ingestion. However, its pharmacological profile is broader.
Recent studies have revealed that harmine can interfere with key cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis and DNA repair. In oncological terms, this makes it an interesting molecule, although still far from being considered therapeutic.
Preclinical evidence: What do the studies show?
An outstanding work from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC, Brazil) evaluated the effects of harmine in breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and in animal models. The results were relevant: inhibition of tumor growth in 31%, increased survival of treated animals and reduction of angiogenesis in 42%. The dose used was 20 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally.
Another study, published in Pharmacognosy Magazine, demonstrated that harmine induces apoptosis in melanoma (B16F-10) and hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells, associated with oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase (PMID: 26834491).
The mechanism of action seems to involve the inhibition of DYRK1A kinase -involved in cell proliferation- and the reduction of PARP1, an enzyme essential for the repair of damaged DNA. In turn, studies in human leukemia lines (HL60) confirm its capacity to reduce cell viability by mitochondrial mechanisms.
Plant miracle or pharmacological tool?
This is where caution is warranted. All the studies mentioned were conducted in vitro or in animal models. There are no human clinical trials that support the use of harmine as an oncological treatment. Moreover, some studies warn about its genotoxic potential at certain doses, which implies serious risks if its use is extrapolated without control.
Like any bioactive compound, harmine is neither “good” nor “bad” in itself: its usefulness will depend on the context, the dose, the route of administration, the interaction with other compounds, and especially, the type of cancer in question. Any claim suggesting that «ayahuasca cures cancer» is not only irresponsible, but dangerous.
Can it have an adjuvant role?
Possibly. Research is progressing towards the development of synthetic derivatives of β-carbolines with more selective properties and lower toxicity. Some experimental groups are evaluating harmine as an adjuvant in chemotherapy, due to its potential to sensitize tumor cells resistant to conventional treatment.
Its action on the PI3K/Akt pathway, a key factor in drug resistance, and its capacity to act as an epigenetic modulator are also being discussed. However, all this remains in the experimental phase.
The risk of spiritualist appropriation
Many “neo-shamanic” and self-help discourses are already circulating in social networks suggesting that harmine, because it is present in “ancestral medicine”, would have an innate wisdom to cure cancer. Such arguments, besides being pseudoscientific, are ethically questionable.
At Casa Hoaska, we position ourselves from a critical spirituality, where sacred experience should not replace the rigor of medical science. We accompany processes of deep transformation, but we never promise cures or substitute conventional medical treatment.
Conclusion: what we know and what we don't know
Harmine has an interesting pharmacological profile, with multiple mechanisms of action that could be exploited in oncology. However, in the current state of the evidence, it can be considered neither a cure nor an alternative treatment. It can, however, motivate research and the development of new therapies based on natural compounds.
Ultimately, what is at stake is not only the life of the person suffering from an oncological disease, but also the credibility of those of us who work with sacred plants. And that credibility is only maintained if we speak the truth, even if it is not convenient.»
Originally published by Gustavo Bergoglio in Iguazu Ayahuasca.
Key references:
Souza, E.M. et al. (2023). Avaliação antitumoral da harmina em modelos murinos de câncer de mama. UFSC, Brazil. UFSC Repository
Chao et al. (2015). “Harmine induces apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway in human hepatoma cells.” Pharmacognosy Magazine. PMID: 26834491
Arnaiz et al. (2022). “Beta-carbolines in cancer research: from ethnobotany to experimental therapeutics.” Frontiers in Pharmacology
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