Ibogaine and the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.
Journal of ethnopharmacology February 15, 2012 Kenneth Alper, Maarten E.A. Reith, Henry Sershen 13 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, is used to treat addiction and is a candidate for pharmaceutical development. Its ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has pharmacological and toxicological relevance. Using Ellman's reagent with physostigmine as a control, ibogaine inhibited AChE with an IC50 of 520 ± 40 μM. This inhibition is physiologically negligible and does not explain functional effects in animals or humans that might suggest involvement of muscarinic acetylcholine pathways.