Harmaline is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), central nervous system stimulant, and eugeroic (wakefullness promoting compound) that is found in a number of plants. It is a partially hydrogenated form of the alkaloid harmine, which often occurs naturally alongside harmaline.
Like harmine, harmaline is a beta-carboline alkaloid; that is, a naturally occurring substance whose effects on the human body influence brain function, antioxidant activity, and mental function. As a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, it plays an important role in the biochemical activity involved in ingesting ayahuasca, preventing the metabolism of DMT in the human body and allowing DMT to remain long enough for its effects to occur.
The presence of harmaline in the human body causes serotonin to to metabolize to melatonin, a powerful antioxidant and the most important hormone for the regulation of sleep.
