ABSTRACT
There is growing interest in the therapeutic potential of 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) for psychiatric disorders. While 5-MeO-DMT can be chemically synthesized, the parotoid gland secretions of Incilius alvarius (also known as the Colorado River or Sonoran Desert toad) contain 5-MeO-DMT and other molecules including bufotenine, bufagenins, bufotoxins, and indole alkylamines that may have individual clinical utility or act as entourage molecules to enhance the activity of 5-MeO-DMT. Incilius alvarius is currently under severe ecological pressure due to demand for natural 5-MeO-DMT and habitat loss. We established a cell line from tissue obtained by wedge biopsy from the parotoid gland of Incilius alvarius and confirmed the cell-based synthesis of 5-MeO-DMT by LC-MS/MS. Cell-based biosynthesis of Incilius alvarius parotoid gland secretions is a potentially cruelty-free and sustainable source of naturally derived 5-MeO-DMT for research and drug development.
Competing Interest Statement
Leonard Lerer, Eric Reynolds, Jeet Varia, Karin Blakolmer, and Bernard Lerer were employees of, or consultants to BYAS at the time of this research.