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 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1159/000139317 via PubMed
Summary
Ibogaine and harmaline were found to suppress various immune functions in vitro, including T-cell and B-cell activities, as well as natural killer-cell function, while macrophage function remained unaffected. The suppression was dose-related and primarily observed at high concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mumol/l across different assays.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Both ibogaine and harmaline caused dose-related suppression of immune functions except for macrophage function. |
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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).