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Tabernanthine

Chemical compound

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated November 18, 2025
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Tabernanthine is an alkaloid found in Tabernanthe iboga. It has been used in laboratory experiments to study how addiction affects the brain. Tabernanthine persistently reduced the self-administration of cocaine and morphine in rats.

01Pharmacology

It is kappa opioid agonist (Ki = 0.15 μM) and NMDA receptor (Ki = 10.5 μM) antagonist. Compared to ibogaine, it binds weakly to σ1 and σ2 receptors.

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Tabernanthine”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

  • Tabernanthine.svg by Ibogaine.svg: Calvero. derivative work: ἀνυπόδητος (talk), Public domain

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Related topics

Coronaridine

Coronaridine, also known as 18-carbomethoxyibogamine, is an alkaloid found in Tabernanthe iboga and related species, including Tabernaemontana divaricata for which it was named. Like ibogaine, (R)-coronaridine and (S)-coronaridine can decrease intake of cocaine and morphine in animals and it may have muscle relaxant and hypotensive activity.

Ibogamine

Ibogamine is an anti-convulsant, anti-addictive, CNS stimulant alkaloid found in Tabernanthe iboga and Crepe Jasmine. Basic research related to how addiction affects the brain has used this chemical.

Voacangine

Voacangine is an alkaloid found predominantly in the root bark of the Voacanga africana tree, as well as in other plants such as Tabernanthe iboga, Tabernaemontana africana, Trachelospermum jasminoides, Tabernaemontana divaricata and Ervatamia yunnanensis. It is an iboga alkaloid which commonly serves as a precursor for the semi-synthesis of ibogaine.