Deciphering ibogaine’s matrix pharmacology: multiple transporter modulation at serotonin synapses

Dublin Core

Title

Deciphering ibogaine’s matrix pharmacology: multiple transporter modulation at serotonin synapses

Subject

IBOGAINA
NORIBOGAINA
TABERNANTHE IBOGA
ALCALOIDES
FARMACOLOGÍA
BIBLIOGRAFIA NACIONAL QUIMICA
2026

Abstract

Ibogaine is the main psychoactive alkaloid produced by the iboga tree (Tabernanthe iboga) that has a unique therapeutic potential across multiple indications, including opioid dependence, substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). We systematically examined the effects of ibogaine, its main metabolite noribogaine, and a series of iboga analogs at monoamine neurotransmitter transporters, some which have been linked to the oneiric and therapeutic effects of these substances. We report that ibogaine and noribogaine inhibit the transport function of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) with sub-micromolar potency in cell-based fluorimetry assays and at individual synaptic vesicle clusters in mouse brain as demonstrated via two-photon microscopy. The iboga compounds also inhibit the plasma membrane monoamine transporters (MATs), prominently including the serotonin transporter (SERT), and a novel iboga target, the organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2). SERT transport inhibition was demonstrated in serotonin axons and soma in the brain and in rat brain synaptosomes, where ibogaine and its analogs did not act as substratetype serotonin releasers. Noribogaine showed dual inhibition of VMAT2 and SERT with comparable potency, providing an explanatory model for the known neurochemical effects of ibogaine in rodents. Together, the updated profile of the monoamine transporter modulation offers insight into the complexity of the iboga pharmacology, which we termed “matrix pharmacology”. The matrix pharmacology concept is outlined and used to explain why ibogaine and noribogaine do not induce catalepsy, as demonstrated in our study, in contrast to other VMAT2 inhibitors.

Creator

Hwu, Christopher
Havel, Václav
Westergaard, Xavier
Mendieta, Adriana M
Serrano, Inis C
Hwu, Jennifer
Walther, Donna
Lankri, David
Selinger, Tim Luca
He, Keer
Liu, Rose
Shern, Tyler P.
Sun, Steven
Ma, Boxuan
González, Bruno
Goodman, Hannah J.
Sonders, Mark S.
Baumann, Michael H.
Sulzer, David
Sames, Dalibor

Source

Journal of the American Chemical Society, v. 148, n°1, 2026. -- pp. 175-193

Publisher

bioRxiv

Date

2026

Rights

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Format

PDF

Extent

41 p.

Language

Inglés

Type

Artículo

Identifier

10.1101/2025.03.04.641351

Document Item Type Metadata

Original Format

PDF
Date Added
October 7, 2026
Collection
Bibliografía Nacional Química
Item Type
Document
Tags
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Citation
Hwu, Christopher et al., “Deciphering ibogaine’s matrix pharmacology: multiple transporter modulation at serotonin synapses,” RIQUIM - Repositorio Institucional de la Facultad de Química - UdelaR, accessed October 22, 2026, https://riquim.fq.edu.uy/items/show/7141.