Death related to consumption of Rauvolfia sp. powder mislabeled as Tabernanthe iboga.
Forensic science international September 1, 2016 Thomas Gicquel, Chloé Hugbart, Françoise Le Devehat et al. 20 citations
A 30-year-old woman died after consuming a powder she bought online that was labeled as iboga (Tabernanthe iboga). Analysis of the powder found no ibogaine but instead contained toxic alkaloids—ajmaline, yohimbine, and reserpine—which are characteristic of Rauvolfia plant species. Blood concentrations were 109.1 ng/mL ajmaline, 98.2 ng/mL yohimbine, and 30.8 ng/mL reserpine; bile concentrations were much higher. The death was attributed to ingesting a substantial quantity of crushed Rauvolfia roots combined with concomitant drug withdrawal.