Identification and quantification of the indole alkaloid ibogaine in biological samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Biochemical pharmacology January 6, 1995 C A Gallagher, L B Hough, S M Keefner et al. 32 citations
A new chemical method to measure the alkaloid ibogaine in biological samples uses extraction, derivatization, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, with a deuterated internal standard. Standard curves for ibogaine (50-400 ng) were linear. The detection limit is about 20 ng/mL of tissue extract (180 ng/g tissue), with a coefficient of variation of 8 to 12.5%. Aqueous ibogaine solutions (1-10 mg/mL) stored at 10°C for up to 7 months showed no more than 10% loss. Measuring brain ibogaine in rats 1 and 19 hours after a 40 mg/kg dose suggests rapid drug disappearance. The method will help reveal ibogaine's pharmacokinetic properties.