Hostname: page-component-6b88cc9666-c4hrb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-02-15T04:31:52.745Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français
Accepted manuscript

Neurorestorative Properties of Ibogaine: Linking Multi-Receptor Affinities to Remyelination and Metabolic Restoration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 February 2026

Tanya Calvey Open the ORCID record for Tanya Calvey [Opens in a new window] ,
Demi Govender ,
Gavin Owen ,
Nancy Tumba ,
Dirk Lang ,
Bernard Lerer ,
Dan J Stein  and
Steven Shoptaw
Tanya Calvey*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Demi Govender
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Gavin Owen
Affiliation:
HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nancy Tumba
Affiliation:
HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dirk Lang
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Bernard Lerer
Affiliation:
Centre for Psychedelic Research, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Dan J Stein
Affiliation:
Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa SAMRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Steven Shoptaw
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, US
*
*Corresponding author: drcalvey@gmail.com; Anatomy Building, University of Cape Town, Anzio rd, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, 7925
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

Ibogaine is a psychedelic alkaloid without an approved indication. Observational clinical research shows linkages between single administration of ibogaine and relief of symptoms of neuropsychiatric conditions including substance use disorder, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Ibogaine has multi-receptor actions, but the neurobiological mechanisms underlying such putative effects is unknown. Here we review and discuss the relevant literature, focusing on remyelination and metabolic restoration. We provide evidence that ibogaine upregulates markers of myelination following opioid administration; that conditions such as opioid use disorder, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury are characterized by white matter pathology; that decreased myelination is related to dysregulated metabolic homeostasis, ischemia and hypoxia which may also play a role in these disorders. We conclude that multi-receptor actions of ibogaine, especially its affinities for the NMDA, kappa opioid and sigma receptors, in turn account for reduction in excitotoxicity, metabolic regulation, lasting neuroplasticity and immunomodulation that facilitates neuronal repair and remyelination providing a rationale for future investigation of its use as a therapeutic agent for these common central nervous system disorders.

Keywords

IbogaineMyelin SheathOpioid-Related DisordersMultiple SclerosisTraumatic Brain Injury

Information

Type
Perspective
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Accepted manuscript , pp. 1 - 36
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology