A dose-response study of ibogaine-induced neuropathology in the rat cerebellum.
Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology September 1, 2000 Z Xu, L W Chang, W Slikker et al. 37 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive compound from a West African shrub, can damage brain cells in rats even after a single dose. In rats given 100 mg/kg, the cerebellum showed clear signs of neurodegeneration, specifically in Purkinje neurons. Similar damage occurred in all rats given 75 mg/kg, though the affected areas were narrower. At 50 mg/kg, only 2 of 6 rats showed damage, but those affected had patches of astrocyte activation. No damage was seen in rats given 25 mg/kg, suggesting this dose may be a safe threshold with no observable adverse effects. The findings highlight ibogaine's potential neurotoxicity, which is relevant given its use in addiction treatment.