An analytical study of iboga alkaloids contained in Tabernanthe iboga-derived products offered by ibogaine treatment providers

BOUSO, JOSÉ CARLOS; FORNÍS, IVAN; VILAMALA, MIREIA VENTURA; LOENEN, BENJAMIN DE; SAINZ-CORT, ALBERTO; JIMÉNEZ-GARRIDO, DANIEL F; SANTOS, RAFAEL GUIMARÃES DOS; HALLAK, JAIME E. C; ALCÁZAR-CÓRCOLES, MIGUEL ÁNGEL; JENKS, CHRISTOPHER W

doi:10.1590/0101-60830000000231

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Original article • Arc. Clin. Psychiatr. 47 (2) • Mar-Apr 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-60830000000231 linkcopy

An analytical study of iboga alkaloids contained in Tabernanthe iboga-derived products offered by ibogaine treatment providers

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Background Therapeutic properties of ibogaine in the treatment of addiction are attracting both clinicians and patients to its use. Since ibogaine is not an authorized medicine, the quality of these products is not always known, increasing the probability of adverse reactions.

Objective This study collects different types of iboga-derived samples from treatment providers, vendors and online buyers to analyse their content.

Methods Analysis of iboga products (n = 16) was performed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry methods (GC/MS). Products included Iboga root bark, Total Alkaloids (TA), Purified Total Alkaloids (PTA HCl), ibogaine hydrochloride (ibogaine HCl) and one Voacanga africana root bark.

Results The content of ibogaine was highly variable, ranging from 0.6% to 11.2% for products sold as iboga root bark, from 8.2% to 32.9% for products sold as TA, 73.7% for one sample sold as PTA and from 61.5% to 73.4% for products sold as ibogaine HCl. One sample did not show any iboga alkaloids. Other alkaloids and unknown substances were found in almost all samples.

Discussion The purity of iboga products is highly variable. These results should be taken into consideration by suppliers and users, especially regarding correct dosing to avoid overdose, as well as potential interactions with other substances.

Tabernanthe iboga; ibogaine; sample analysis; addiction treatment; harm reduction

Material	Date of Purchase	Country	Form	Color	Expected ibogaine concentration	Quantitative analysis (GC/MS)
Iboga Root bark	Unknown	Australia	Powder	Light brown	--	A: 0,6%
Iboga Root bark	2006	Netherlands	Fine chopped bark	Brown	--	All unknown substances
Iboga Root bark	17/10/2012	New Zealand	Powder	Light brown	2-4%	A: 11.2% C: 0.7%
Iboga Root bark	11/04/2012	Canada	Powder	Brown	--	A: 2.1% C: 0,3%
Iboga Root bark	11/04/2012	Mexico	Powder	Light brown	--	A: 9.9% B: 0.1% C: 0.6%
Iboga Root bark	03/04/2013	Germany	Chopped bark	Brown	--	A: 7.1% B: 1.5% C: 2.3% D: 0.2%
Iboga extract-PTA	11/04/2012	South Africa	Powder	Light brown	80%	A: 73.7% B: 4.7% C: 6.1%
Iboga extract-TA	Unknown	Australia	Powder	Brown	--	A: 9.1% B: 2.3% C: 0.6% D: 0.2% E: 0.1%
Iboga extract-TA	07/04/2010	South Africa	Powder	Brown	40%	A: 32.9% B: 0.2% C: 2.1% D: 0.4% E: 0.3%
Iboga extract-TA	16/05/2012	New Zealand	Sticky raisin	Dark brown	35% (sold as 35% of ibogaine)	A: 25.4% B: 0.5% C: 16.4% D: 0.6% E: 0.6%
Iboga extract-TA	16/08/2012	New Zealand	Pressed Powder	Dark brown	Less than 5% (sold as 35% of ibogaine)	A: 13.3% B: 0.2% C: 1.6% D: 0.1% E: 0.1%
Iboga extract-TA	11/10/2012	New Zealand	Powder	Dark brown	Less than 10% (sold as 35% of ibogaine)	A: 8.2% B: 0.2% C: 0.8% D: 0.1% E: 0.1%
Iboga extract-TA	07/05/2013	Hawai USA	Powder	Light brown	--	A: 61.6% B: 7.2% C: 7.1%
Voacanga africana Root bark	03/04/2013	Spain	Pieces of bark	Brown	5-10% carbometoxi-ibogaina (voacangine)	A: 0.6% D: 2.1%
Ibogaine HCL	Unknown	Australia	Powder	White	--	A: 73.4% C: 2.1%
Ibogaine HCL	07/05/2013	Hawai USA	Powder	White	--	A: 65.9% C: 8.7%

	Iboga Root Bark (n = 6)			TA (n = 5)			Ibogaine HCl (n = 3)			PTA HCl (n = 1)			V. africana (n = 1)

	N	Ave.	Range	N	Ave.	Range	N	Ave.	Range	N	Ave.	Range	N	Ave.	Range
Ibogaine	5	6.2%	0.6%-11.2%	5	17.8%	8.2%-32.9%	3	67.0%	61.6%-73.4%	1	73.7%	--	1	0.6%	--
Ibogaline	2	0.8%	0.1%-1.5%	5	0.69%%	0.2%-2.3%	1	7.2%	--	1	4.7%	--	0	--	--
Ibogamine	4	0.98%	0.3%-2.3%	5	4.3%	0.6%-16.4%	3	5.9%	2.1%-8.7%	1	6.1%	--	0	--	--
Voacangine	1	0.2%	--	5	0.25%	0.1%-0.6%	0	--	--	0	--	--	1	2.1%	--
Iboleutine	0	--	--	5	0.27%	0.1%-0.6%	0	--	--	0	--	--	0	--	--

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[TFN1] Note. A: ibogaine; B: ibogaline; C: ibogamine; D: iboleutine; E: voacangine.