Ibogaine: A Novel Anti-Addictive Compound A Comprehensive Literature Review
Maryland Shared Open Access Repository January 1, 2003 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.13016/m2txg0-wv9p via OpenAlex
Summary
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid found in the roots of the Tabernathe iboga plant, which also contains 11 other psychoactive constituents. It is classified as a tryptamine and is structurally similar to harmaline. Although it can be synthesized from nicotinamide through a complex process, extraction from the iboga root remains the simpler method for obtaining ibogaine.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Ibogaine can be extracted from the Tabernathe iboga root or synthesized from nicotinamide. |
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Abstract
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid, found in a variety of African shrubsof the Tabernathe genus (Obach, Pablo, and Mash, 1998). The root of the Tabernathe ibogaplant (also known as eboga) is the most frequently cited source of ibogaine, and this plantcontains 11 other known psychoactive constituents (Popik, and Skolnick, 1999). Chemically,ibogaine is classified as a tryptamine, being a rigid analogue of melatonin, and is structurallysimilar to harmaline, another natural alkaloid and psychedelic (Xu et al, 2000). Ibogaine wasfirst extracted from the Tabernathe iboga root in 1901 by Dybowsky and Landrin (Goutarel,Gollnhofer, and Sillans, 1993). It can also be synthesised from nicotinamide by way of a 13or 14 step process, although extraction from the iboga root is a simpler method for obtainingthe compound (Shulgin and Shulgin, 1977).