Psychopharmacology
June 1, 2022
Genís Ona, Juliana Mendes Rocha, José Carlos Bouso et al.
41 citations
Ibogaine, a hallucinogenic and psychostimulant alkaloid from the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, is known for its anti-addictive properties, but its use is associated with serious adverse events and fatalities. A systematic review of 18 studies from 2015 to 2020 found highly heterogeneous results regarding the product used and dosages. Adverse events were classified as acute effects (within 24 hours) and persistent cardiac, psychiatric, and neurological alterations. The review highlights the need for phase I clinical trials to establish safety for standardized ibogaine products, and for research to identify vulnerable populations and develop effective screening and clinical procedures.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
December 1, 2023
Genís Ona, Ingrid Reverte, Giordano N Rossi et al.
20 citations
Ibogaine and its main metabolite, noribogaine, modulate several brain targets associated with substance use disorders. Rather than having a single key mechanism, their anti-addictive action appears to arise from a complex modulation of multiple receptor systems, creating potential beneficial synergies. This understanding comes from a review of theoretical and experimental studies published up to July 2022. The authors suggest that future research should apply polypharmacology approaches to better describe the multifaceted patterns of this multi-target drug, which could guide both mechanistic and therapeutic studies.
Translational psychiatry
January 19, 2024
Judit Biosca-Brull, Genis Ona, Lineth Alarcón-franco et al.
5 citations
A single oral dose of ibogaine significantly alters gene expression in the frontal cortex of mice four hours after administration. Genes involved in hormonal pathways and synaptogenesis were upregulated, while genes associated with apoptosis and endosomal transport were downregulated. Validation via qPCR did not fully confirm the hormonal pathway changes, possibly due to the specific brain region sampled. Female mice showed more pronounced gene expression changes than males, and high variability was observed across individual animals. These findings advance understanding of ibogaine's molecular actions and highlight sex differences that may influence its effects.