Ex vivo effects of ibogaine on the activity of antioxidative enzymes in human erythrocytes.
Aleksandra Nikolić-kokić, Zorana Oreščanin-dušić, Ivan Spasojević, Marija Slavić, Ana Mijušković, Roman Paškulin, Čedo Miljević, Mihajlo Spasić, Duško Blagojević
Journal of Ethnopharmacology April 22, 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.01.037 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | In vitro experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Human erythrocytes (red blood cells) from heparinized blood samples |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Dose | 10 and 20 μM |
| Duration | 1-hour incubation |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Adaptogen Alkaloids Antioxidant Natural alkaloid Cellular energy Atp Healthy cellular metabolism Oxidative stress Sod1 Gr Anti-aging Cellular aging |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine increased ATP concentration in blood plasma and enhanced SOD1 and glutathione reductase activity in human erythrocytes, while mitigating hydrogen peroxide-induced suppression of SOD1. |
Abstract
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 demonstrated that ibogaine changed the quantity of ATP and energy related enzymes as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes in cells thus altering redox equilibrium in a time manner. In this work, the mechanism of its action was further studied by measuring the effects of ibogaine in human erythrocytes in vitro on ATP liberation, membrane fluidity and antioxidant enzymes activity. Heparinized human blood samples were incubated with ibogaine (10 and 20 μM) at 37°C for 1h. Blood plasma was separated by centrifugation and the levels of ATP and uric acid were measured 10 min after the addition of ibogaine using standard kits. The activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured in erythrocytes after incubation period. The stability of SOD1 activity was further tested through in vitro incubation with H2O2 and scanning of its electrophoretic profiles. Membrane fluidity was determined using an electron paramagnetic resonance spin-labelling method. Results showed that ibogaine treatment of erythrocytes in vitro increased ATP concentration in the blood plasma without changes in neither erythrocytes membrane fluidity nor uric acid concentration. Ibogaine also increased SOD1 activity in erythrocytes at both doses applied here. Treatment with 20 μM also elevated GR activity after in vitro incubation at 37°C. Electrophoretic profiles revealed that incubation with ibogaine mitigates H2O2 mediated suppression of SOD1 activity. Some of the effects of ibogaine seem to be mediated through its influence on energy metabolism, redox active processes and the effects of discrete fluctuations of individual reactive oxygen species on different levels of enzyme activities. Overall, ibogaine acts as a pro-antioxidant by increasing activity of antioxidative enzymes and as an adaptagene in oxidative distress.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noncompetitive Functional Inhibition at Diverse, Human Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subtypes by Bupropion, Phencyclidine, and Ibogaine TE671/RD cells (human muscle-type nAChR) and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells (human... | 1999 | In vitro study | |
| Degeneration of Purkinje cells in parasagittal zones of the cerebellar vermis after treatment with ibogaine or harmaline. Ibogaine- or harmaline-treated rats | 1993 | Experimental animal study | |
| Effects and aftereffects of ibogaine on morphine self-administration in rats. Rats | 1991 | Preclinical experimental study | |
| Effects of iboga alkaloids on morphine and cocaine self-administration in rats: relationship to tremorigenic effects and to effects on dopamine release in nucleus accumbens and striatum. Rats | 1994 | Experimental study | |
| Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mediates the Desirable Actions of the Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine against Alcohol Consumption Rats | 2005 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- The Iboga Alkaloids. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products 2017
- Ibogaine Has Sex-Specific Plasma Bioavailability, Histopathological and Redox/Antioxidant Effects in Rat Liver and Kidneys: A Study on Females. Life December 23, 2021
- Effects of ibogaine per os application on redox homeostasis in rat liver and erythrocytes Archives of Biological Sciences December 5, 2018
- The Effects of Ibogaine on Uterine Smooth Muscle Contractions: Relation to the Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2018
- Ibogaine Induces Cardiotoxic Necrosis in Rats-The Role of Redox Processes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences June 13, 2024
and 3 more in the library
Cites 5
- Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
- The mechanistic basis for noncompetitive ibogaine inhibition of serotonin and dopamine transporters. Journal of Biological Chemistry May 25, 2012
- Ibogaine affects brain energy metabolism. European Journal of Pharmacology December 15, 2006
- Metabolic plasticity and the energy economizing effect of ibogaine, the principal alkaloid of Tabernanthe iboga. Journal of Ethnopharmacology August 30, 2012
- Induction of energy metabolism related enzymes in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to ibogaine is adaptation to acute decrease in ATP energy pool. European Journal of Pharmacology February 10, 2010