“Introduction: since ancient times, some mescaline containing plants that have hallucinogen effects and cause alterations in the central nervous system have been used to fulfill traditional objectives associated with divination, healing, spirituality and others. objective: to determine the effect of the aqueous extract of trichocereus pachanoi at doses of 10 %, 20 % and 30 % solution on depression-like exploratory behavior in rattus rattus var. albinus. material and methods: the present experimental study, which is exploratory, constructive and prospective in nature, was conducted in 4 groups of 10 rats. the rats were administered increasing doses of aqueous extract of trichocereus pachanoi; then, they underwent forced swimming with a previous 15-minute training. results: the group that did not receive any treatment had the lowest response to the duration of time spent at scaling compared to groups b, c and d that spent 13.5 min., 17.17 min., and 24.37 min., respectively. also, in the evaluation of mobility, group a showed the lowest value compared to groups b, c and d that recorded 13.42 min., 17.62 min., and 23.12 min., respectively. conclusions: the treatment with aqueous extract of trichocereus pachanoi at concentrations of 10 %, 20 % and 30 % applied to rats has been effective in producing a tranquilizer effect on the depression-like exploratory behavior in rats.”