Anxiolytic-like effects of noribogaine in zebrafish.
Allan V. Kalueff, Aleksandra Kaluyeva, Émeline L. Maillet
Behavioural Brain Research July 14, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.05.008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) |
| Intervention | Noribogaine |
| Dose | 1, 5 and 10 mg/L |
| Duration | 20-minute drug immersion |
| Topics | Anxiety Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Anxiety management Zebrafish research Drug abuse treatment |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Noribogaine produced robust anxiolytic-like behavior in zebrafish, increasing time spent and transitions to the top half compartment and reducing freezing bouts, without overt effects on locomotion. |
Abstract
Noribogaine is the main psychoactive metabolite of the hallucinogenic drug ibogaine, and is a particularly interesting compound potentially useful to treat dependence and various psychiatric disorders. Here, we report the effects of noribogaine on anxiety and locomotion in zebrafish (Danio rerio), a new promising model organism in neurobehavioral and psychopharmacological research. Adult zebrafish were subjected to the 5min novel tank test (NTT) following an acute, 20-min drug immersion in 1, 5 and 10mg/L noribogaine. Overall, noribogaine produced robust anxiolytic-like behavior in zebrafish (increasing the time spent and transitions to the top half compartment and reducing freezing bouts) without overt effects on fish locomotion. Taken together, these results indicate that noribogaine modulates the components of the acute stress response related to emotionality and anxiety behaviors, implicating this drug as a potentially useful non-sedative anxiolytic agent.
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 4
- DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Ibogaine ACS Chemical Neuroscience September 14, 2018
- Ibogaine as a Double-Edged Sword: Developmental Cardiotoxicity and Neurobehavioral Alterations in Zebrafish Behavioural Brain Research August 1, 2026
- Psychedelic-induced behavioral and developmental effects on zebrafish: a systematic review. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry October 20, 2025
- Development of Bioisosteric Iboga -alkaloids as Antinociceptive and Anxiolytic Agents with Neuroprotective Effects
Cites 21
- Treatment of acute opioid withdrawal with ibogaine. American Journal on Addictions 1999
- Effects and aftereffects of ibogaine on morphine self-administration in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology April 3, 1991
- A preliminary investigation of ibogaine: case reports and recommendations for further study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 1994
- Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
- 18-Methoxycoronaridine, a non-toxic iboga alkaloid congener: effects on morphine and cocaine self-administration and on mesolimbic dopamine release in rats. Brain Research May 6, 1996
and 16 more in the library