Chemical Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 18-Methoxycoronaridine (18-MC) as a Potential Anti-addictive Agent
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Central Nervous System Agents August 1, 2001 Upul K. Bandarage, Martin E. Kuehne, Stanley D. Glick 8 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid from the West African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, can reduce addictive behavior for up to six months after a single oral dose or three years after four treatments in rats, decreasing self-administration of morphine, cocaine, ethanol, and nicotine. However, ibogaine causes serious side effects including tremors, degeneration of Purkinje cells, and acute depression of water-seeking behavior. To overcome these problems, researchers synthesized 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), a novel iboga alkaloid congener, via a 13-step process with 7% yield. In rats, 18-MC similarly reduces self-administration of these drugs but lacks ibogaine's side effects, suggesting potential as a safer treatment for multiple forms of drug abuse.