DMT, or dimethyltryptamine, is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound present in many plants and mammals. In a study published in Science Advances, researchers from the HUN‑REN BRC Institute of Biophysics and the Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center reported that DMT mitigates harmful effects of stroke in animal models and cell culture experiments.
DMT is also found in the human brain and is currently in clinical trials for aiding recovery of brain function after stroke. Its precise mechanism of action had remained unclear until now. “It is amazing how we can always turn to nature to find ingenious solutions for health problems,” said co‑lead author Mária Deli of the HUN‑REN BRC.
Co‑first author Marcell László noted, “We discovered that DMT significantly reduced infarct volume and edema formation in a rat stroke model.”
Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that DMT treatment restored the structure and function of the damaged blood‑brain barrier, improved astroglial cell function, suppressed the release of inflammatory cytokines from brain endothelial cells and peripheral immune cells, and lowered activation of microglia via Sigma‑1 receptors.
“The current therapeutic options for stroke are very limited. The dual action of DMT, protecting the blood‑brain barrier while dampening brain inflammation, offers a novel, multifaceted approach that could complement existing treatments,” said Judit Vigh, another co‑first author.
Because standard stroke therapies do not always yield full recovery, DMT‑based interventions may provide a promising new alternative, particularly when combined with current methods. The recent findings from researchers in Szeged and Budapest, Hungary, reinforce the potential of therapies that go beyond the constraints of conventional stroke care. Clinical trials exploring the use of DMT and its long‑term effects are underway.