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 06, 1996
Source: PubMed
Summary
18-Methoxycoronaridine (MC), a synthetic derivative of ibogaine, shows promise in treating addiction without the harmful side effects associated with ibogaine. In studies with rats, a dose of 40 mg/kg of MC reduced morphine and cocaine intake, with some effects lasting several days or weeks. Unlike ibogaine, MC did not induce tremors or cause cerebellar toxicity even at higher doses (100 mg/kg). Additionally, MC decreased dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens, suggesting its potential as a safer alternative for managing addictive behaviors.
Abstract
Ibogaine, a naturally occurring iboga alkaloid, has been claimed to be effective in treating addiction to opioids and stimulants, and has been reported to inhibit morphine and cocaine self-administration in rats. However, ibogaine also has acute nonspecific side effects (e.g. tremors, decreased motivated behavior in general) as well as neurotoxic effects (Purkinje cell loss) manifested in the vermis of the cerebellum. 18-Methoxycoronaridine (MC) is a novel, synthetic iboga alkaloid congener that mimics ibogaine's effects on drug self-administration without appearing to have ibogaine's other adverse effects. Acutely, in rats, MC decreased morphine and cocaine self-administration but did not affect bar-press responding for water. In some rats, treatment with MC (40 mg/kg) induced prolonged decreases in morphine or cocaine intake lasting several days or weeks. MC had no apparent tremorigenic effect, and there was no evidence of cerebellar toxicity after a high dose (100 mg/kg) of MC. Similar to the effects of ibogaine and other iboga alkaloids that inhibit drug self-administration, MC (40 mg/kg) decreased extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. MC therefore appears to be a safer, ibogaine-like agent that might be useful in the treatment of addictive disorders.