Comparison of the hallucinogenic indole alkaloids ibogaine and harmaline for potential immunomodulatory activity.
R V House, P T Thomas, H N Bhargava
Pharmacology June 1, 1995 DOI: 10.1159/000139317 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIndole alkaloids ibogaine and harmaline suppress several immune functions in a dose-dependent manner in laboratory tests. At high concentrations (10–100 μmol/L), both compounds reduced T-cell regulatory and effector activity, B-cell function, and natural killer-cell function. Macrophage function was not affected. The suppression was observed across multiple assays, suggesting a broad immunomodulatory effect at elevated doses.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | In vitro study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Ibogaine harmaline |
| Dose | 10-100 µmol/L |
| Citations | 12 |
| Key finding | Ibogaine and harmaline cause dose-related suppression of T-cell, B-cell, and natural killer-cell function but not macrophage function at high concentrations. |
Abstract
The immunomodulatory potential of the indole alkaloids ibogaine and harmaline was examined in a panel of in vitro immune function assays. These assays were chosen to assess T-cell regulatory and effector function, B-cell function, macrophage function, and natural killer-cell function. The in vitro exposure to either ibogaine or harmaline resulted in a dose-related suppression of all immune functions examined except macrophage function. This suppression was noted at various concentrations in different assays, but was generally only associated with high concentrations (10-100 mumol/l).