The effects of the primary psychoactive constituent of marijuana, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are mediated by cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors display a unique central nervous system (CNS) distribution and are present in mammalian brain at higher levels than most other known G-protein-coupled receptors. The highest levels occur in several areas involved in motor control...
The alkaloid ibogaine is potentially useful to reduce craving for several drugs of abuse, but its mechanism of action is not known. In the current study, in vitro studies were conducted in order to determine the affinity of ibogaine for sigma receptors. Our results indicate that ibogaine has a relatively high affinity for sigma 2 receptors (Ki = 90.4 and 250 nM) and a significantly lower...