The preservation of naturally mummified bodies in the Nazca drainage and Yauca Valley provided an opportunity to analyse for the first time which of the psychoactive plants were used on the southern Peruvian coast. Toxicological analysis allows us to better understand the ancient medicine, trade network and religiosity of the region of interest. Hair samples of 22 individuals (including four trophy heads) were examined using LC-MS/MS for the presence of coca alkaloids and metabolites (cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene), mescaline, tryptamine, harmaline, and harmine. LC–MS/MS was performed using electrospray ionization (ESI) in the positive mode, multiple reaction monitoring, and a deuterated internal standard (Diazepam-D5). The limits of quantification achieved for analytes were from 1 to 5 ng/g. Recoveries ranged from 91,6 to 113,7%. The method demonstrated an intraday and interday precision CV of <15%.

The results of the study show that coca leaves were present on the southern Peruvian coast since the Early Nazca Period (100 BCE - 450 CE). The Nazca inhabitants were also positive tested for the presence of harmine and harmaline coming probably form Banisteriopsis caapi (the main compound of the hallucinogenic ayahuasca beverage), and the San Pedro cactus, a source of mescaline. This is the oldest archaeological evidence of the consumption of these two plants. In modern medicine, the properties of harmine have led to its use in anti-depression and anti-addiction treatment. Banisteriopsis caapi is native to the Amazonian rainforest and had to be the object of long-distance trade, which showed its important role in ancient medicine and rituals. San Pedro cactus is taken for its strong hallucinogenic properties and was detected in hair belonging to a child victim whose head was transformed into a trophy head. This is the first proof that some of the victims transformed into trophy heads were given stimulants prior to their death.

在纳斯卡排水沟和约卡谷保存的天然木乃伊尸体提供了一个机会，可以首次分析秘鲁南部海岸使用了哪些精神活性植物。毒理学分析使我们能够更好地了解感兴趣地区的古代医学、贸易网络和宗教信仰。使用 LC-MS/MS 检查 22 个人（包括四个奖杯头）的头发样本中古柯生物碱和代谢物（可卡因、苯甲酰芽子碱、可卡乙烯）、美斯卡林、色胺、哈马林和哈敏的存在。LC-MS/MS 使用正离子模式的电喷雾电离 (ESI)、多反应监测和氘代内标 (Diazepam-D5) 进行。分析物的定量限为 1 至 5 ng/g。回收率从 91.6% 到 113.7% 不等。

研究结果表明，自纳斯卡早期（公元前 100 年至公元 450 年）以来，秘鲁南部海岸就存在古柯叶。纳斯卡居民也对可能来自Banisteriopsis caapi（致幻死藤水饮料的主要化合物）和圣佩德罗仙人掌（一种美斯卡林的来源）的哈马宁和哈马林的存在进行了阳性测试。这是食用这两种植物的最古老的考古证据。在现代医学中，harmine 的特性导致其用于抗抑郁和抗成瘾治疗。藤蔓原产于亚马逊雨林，不得不成为远距离贸易的对象，由此可见其在古代医药和仪式中的重要作用。圣佩德罗仙人掌因其强烈的致幻特性而被认为是在属于儿童受害者的头发中检测到的，该儿童受害者的头部被转化为奖杯头部。这是第一个证明一些变成奖杯头像的受害者在死前被给予兴奋剂的证据。