Ibogaine affects brain energy metabolism.
Roman Paškulin, Polona Jamnik, Marko Živin, Peter Raspor, Borut Strukelj
European journal of pharmacology December 15, 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.09.008 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIbogaine, an alkaloid from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, reduces withdrawal symptoms in animal models of drug addiction, and its effects outlast its presence in the body, suggesting lasting metabolic changes. In rats given a single 20 mg/kg dose, brain protein analysis at 24 and 72 hours revealed increased levels of key energy-metabolism enzymes: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase A, pyruvate kinase, and malate dehydrogenase. These enzymes are involved in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The findings indicate that ibogaine's anti-addiction effects may arise from enhanced energy availability, supporting cellular changes needed for detoxification and reversal of drug tolerance.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Animal experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rat brains |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Dose | 20 mg/kg body weight i.p. |
| Duration | 24 and 72 hours |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Addiction treatment Addiction recovery Substance abuse treatment Drug rehabilitation |
| Citations | 24 |
| Key finding | Ibogaine treatment induced enzymes of glycolysis and the TCA cycle in rat brains, suggesting its anti-addiction effect may be mediated by increased energy metabolism. |
Abstract
Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid present in the root of the plant Tabernanthe iboga. It is known to attenuate abstinence syndrome in animal models of drug addiction. Since the anti-addiction effect lasts longer than the presence of ibogaine in the body, some profound metabolic changes are expected. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ibogaine on protein expression in rat brains. Rats were treated with ibogaine at 20 mg/kg body weight i.p. and subsequently examined at 24 and 72 h. Proteins were extracted from whole brain and separated by two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis. Individual proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Enzymes of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle namely glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase A, pyruvate kinase and malate dehydrogenase were induced. The results suggest that the remedial effect of ibogaine could be mediated by the change in energy availability. Since energy dissipating detoxification and reversion of tolerance to different drugs of abuse requires underlying functional and structural changes in the cell, higher metabolic turnover would be favourable. Understanding the pharmacodynamics of anti-addiction drugs highlights the subcellular aspects of addiction diseases, in addition to neurological and psychological perspectives.