The Colorado River toad has a brownish-green color and can be found in the Sonoran Desert, spanning across the northwest region of Mexico as well as parts of California and Arizona. Scientists now suspect that a toxin secreted from its skin may possess antidepressant properties.
This discovery is part of a larger scientific investigation into the use of hallucinogenic substances to treat anxiety and depression.
The Hallucinogenic Power of Colorado River Toad Toxin
A new study published in Nature examined the “power” of the Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius), also known as the Sonoran Desert toad. This toad secretes a toxin known as 5-MeO-DMT that has hallucinogenic properties. While this toxin is potent enough to be lethal to a dog, humans experience only mild irritation upon exposure—along with the side effect of hallucinations.
Indeed, the Colorado River toad has long been sought after for its psychoactive secretions. People would lick the toad or extract its toxin to dry and smoke it. Scientists have since grown curious about whether this hallucinogen could have therapeutic potential.
“We want to enhance our understanding of hallucinogens beyond their psychedelic effects. Psychedelic drugs, such as LSD and 5-MeO-DMT, have shown potential in treating various psychiatric disorders,” explained Audrey Warren, a PhD candidate and one of the authors of the new study on the Colorado River toad, to Allthatsinteresting.
Warren and her colleagues from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Columbia University in New York focused their research on 5-MeO-DMT, the substance derived from the toad. Using mice, they investigated how it interacts with a serotonin receptor known as the 5-HT1A receptor.
Most research on hallucinogens has concentrated on another receptor, 5-HT2A, because it produces hallucinations. However, 5-HT1A also shows promise in developing new medications for depression and anxiety, and the toad’s toxin appears to activate it.
Warren told Allthatsinteresting: “We are particularly interested in studying 5-MeO-DMT, a hallucinogen found in the secretions of the Colorado River toad, because it is currently being evaluated as an antidepressant in humans. We want to understand how 5-MeO-DMT and related compounds interact with 5-HT1A and whether this interaction contributes to the therapeutic effects of this hallucinogenic drug.
Researchers found that the toad’s secretions exhibit antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in mice similar to those of LSD. However, the secretions do not produce a hallucinogenic response—potentially making it an ideal drug for humans.
Warren noted: “Our current findings have certainly shed light on the underappreciated role of serotonin receptors beyond 5-HT2A in the pharmacology of hallucinogenic drugs. Our research also suggests that a synthetic modified version of naturally occurring 5-MeO-DMT could eliminate the hallucinogenic effects while retaining its therapeutic properties.”
She added: “These substances could be safely used at home without the need for trained clinical supervision and associated costs, such as independent therapy or maintenance therapy following hallucinogenic interventions.”
Their research is part of a much larger effort to use hallucinogenic drugs to treat depression and anxiety.
The toxin of the Colorado River toad contains hallucinogenic substances.
The Connection Between Hallucination and Mental Health Treatment
The Colorado River toad’s toxin is not the only hallucinogen that scientists are exploring for its healing properties. In recent years, substances such as LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) have all shown promise in treating various mental health disorders.
Studies have indicated that such hallucinogens could be effective treatments for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, much remains unknown about how these drugs work. And using synthetic hallucinogenic substances to treat mental health conditions can carry risks.
As The New York Times reported in 2023, such drugs may have adverse side effects. They can trigger psychotic episodes or mania in some users, or even induce schizophrenia in individuals with a family history of the disorder or bipolar disorder.
Hallucinogenic drugs can also pose dangers to individuals with high blood pressure, heart disease, and heart rhythm disorders. They may induce seizures in those with epilepsy and can be harmful to individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
However, at this moment, the Colorado River toad may play a significant role in future research on hallucinations and mental health. According to the new study, the toad’s secretions are likely a powerful component in antidepressant medication.
