Ibogaine is an organic indole alkaloid that is used in alternative medicine to combat addiction. Numerous cases of life-threatening complications and sudden deaths associated with ibogaine use have been reported, and it has been hypothesized that the adverse effects are related to ibogaine's tendency to induce cardiac arrhythmias. Considering that the bioavailability of ibogaine and its primary...
Ibogaine induces rapid changes in cellular energetics followed by the elevation of antioxidant activities. As shown earlier in male rats, ibogaine treatment with both 1 and 20 mg/kg b.w. per os led to significant glycogenolytic activity in the liver. In this work, female rats treated with the same doses of ibogaine per os displayed lower liver glycogenolytic activity relative to males,...
Ibogaine effects are mediated by cellular receptors, ATP depletion followed by ROS production and antioxidant enzyme activity elevation in a dose and time dependent manner. Since the role of KATP channels and β-adrenoceptors in ROS cellular circuit was established here we explored their role in ibogaine pro-antioxidant effectiveness. Single dose of ibogaine (10 mg/L i.e., 28.8 μmol/L) was...
HIGHLIGHTS The ibogain action has not been completely clarified. Honey bee midgut is suitable model system for testing the antioxidative mechanisms. The ex vivo ibogaine treatment induced an up-regulation of Sod1 gene. Ibogaine shows pro-antioxidant action.
Ibogaine is the main alkaloid in the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga plant which groves in Western-Central Africa. It has been used by natives to overcome fatigue, hunger and thirst, and in higher doses to provoke hallucinations. In the “ibogaine medical subculture” in Europe and America it is used to facilitate abstinence from variety of addictive substances (cocaine, heroin, methadone,...
Our previous results showed that a single oral dose (1 or 20 mg/kg body weight) of the anti-addiction agent ibogaine induced in rats 6 and 24 h after administration glycogenolytic activity in hepatocytes, followed by a mild oxidative stress. In this work, we examined the in vivo effect of the same doses of ibogaine on rat kidney morphology, antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutases (SOD1 and...
Ibogaine, administered as a single oral dose (1-25 mg/kg body weight), has been used as an addiction-interrupting agent. Its effects persist for up to 72 h. Ex vivo results showed that ibogaine induced cellular energy consumption and restitution, followed by increased reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the aim of this work was to explore the effect of a...
Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid originally extracted from the root bark of the African rainforest shrub Tabernanthe iboga. It has been explored as a treatment for substance abuse because it interrupts drug addiction and relieves withdrawal symptoms. However, it has been shown that ibogaine treatment leads to a sharp and transient fall in cellular ATP level followed by an increase of cellular...
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring alkaloid with psychotropic and metabotropic effects, derived from the bark of the root of the West African Tabernanthe iboga plant. The tribes of Kongo basin have been using iboga as a stimulant, for medicinal purposes, and in rite of passage ceremonies, for centuries. Besides, it has been found that this drug has anti-addictive effects. Previous studies have...
The root bark of iboga plant-Tabernanthe iboga has been used traditionally in Central Africa as a psychoactive substance in religious rituals, while in smaller doses it is appreciated due to its stimulant properties. The iboga root bark, iboga extract or pure ibogaine are being recognized in the West as an anti-addiction remedy and their use is increasing. Our previous studies have demonstrated...