Ibogaine Induces Cardiotoxic Necrosis in Rats-The Role of Redox Processes.
Teodora Vidonja Uzelac, Nikola Tatalović, Milica Mijović, Marko Miler, Tanja Grahovac, Zorana Oreščanin-dušić, Aleksandra Nikolić-kokić, Duško Blagojević
International Journal of Molecular Sciences June 13, 2024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126527 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Dose | 1 or 20 mg/kg |
| Duration | 6 and 24 hours after treatment |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Antioxidant defense Cardiotoxicity Heart Myocardial necrosis Pericarditis Sex-associated differences Vasculitis Ibogaine therapy Alternative addiction treatment Fatal side effect Drug metabolites Primary metabolite |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine induced dose-dependent cardiotoxic necrosis in rats without inflammation, and no consistent changes in antioxidant defense or oxidative damage were observed. |
Abstract
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 metabolite noribogaine is two to three times higher in female rats than in male rats, we here investigated the effect of a single oral dose (1 or 20 mg/kg) of ibogaine on cardiac histopathology and oxidative/antioxidant balance. Our results show that ibogaine induced dose-dependent cardiotoxic necrosis 6 and 24 h after treatment and that this necrosis was not a consequence of inflammation. In addition, no consistent dose- and time-dependent changes in antioxidant defense or indicators of oxidative damage were observed. The results of this study may contribute to a better understanding of ibogaine-induced cardiotoxicity, which is one of the main side effects of ibogaine use in humans and is often fatal. Nevertheless, based on this experiment, it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the role of redox processes or oxidative stress in the occurrence of cardiotoxic necrosis after ibogaine administration.
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 3
- Psychedelics in Multiple Sclerosis: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Prospects for Neuroimmune Modulation and Repair. Cells November 26, 2025
- Not Losing Momentum: Cross-Sectional Insights into Ibogaine Clinical Trials. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs April 18, 2025
- A Systematic Review of the efficacy, safety, and Tolerability of Psychedelics in the Treatment of post-traumatic Stress Disorder Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry December 26, 2025
Cites 23
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- Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
- The Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine and the Heart: A Delicate Relation Molecules January 29, 2015
- Antagonism of alpha 3 beta 4 nicotinic receptors as a strategy to reduce opioid and stimulant self-administration. European Journal of Pharmacology March 1, 2002
and 18 more in the library