Iboga

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Gabon, Zaire, Africa, English, CD

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Apertif, Aphrodisiac, CNS stimulant, Convalescence

Science studied: ALKALOIDS, DESMETHOXYIBOLUTEINE, GABONINE, HYDROXYINDOLEINIBOGAINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Apocynaceae

Scientific name: Tabernanthe iboga

Common names: Iboga, bitter-grass, bois amer, bois sacré, dibughi, dihoa, eboka, eraga, iboga, ibogapensas

POWO: 56090-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Gabon, Zaire, Africa, English, CD.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Apertif
• Aphrodisiac
• CNS stimulant
• Convalescence
• Debility
• Fatality
• Fever
• Hypertension

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• Gabon
• Zaire
• Africa
• English
• CD

Documented cultural uses

• Apertif
• Aphrodisiac
• CNS stimulant
• Convalescence
• Debility
• Fatality
• Fever
• Hypertension
• Neurasthenia
• Tonic
• Flu

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Apertif · Elsewhere · "
• Aphrodisiac · Gabon · "
• Aphrodisiac · Zaire · "
• CNS stimulant · Gabon · "
• Convalescence · Elsewhere · "
• Debility · Africa · "
• Fatality · Gabon · "
• Fever · Africa · "
• Fever · English · "
• Hypertension · Elsewhere · "
• Neurasthenia · Elsewhere · "
• Tonic · Africa · "
• Aphrodisiac · English · "
• Flu · Elsewhere · "
• Aphrodisiac · Africa · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Streamlined screening platforms lead to the discovery of pachysiphine synthase from Tabernanthe iboga. · 2024 source ↗
• Streamlined screening platforms lead to the discovery of pachysiphine synthase from <i>Tabernanthe iboga</i> · 2024 source ↗
• Phytochemical characterisation and effects of the native plant Tabernanthe iboga in models of diabetes · 2019 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALKALOIDS
• DESMETHOXYIBOLUTEINE
• GABONINE
• HYDROXYINDOLEINIBOGAINE
• IBAGAMINE
• IBOCHINE
• IBOGAINE
• IBOPHYLLIDINE
• KIMVULINE
• KISANTINE
• TANNIN
• VOACANGINE
• IBOLUTEINE
• IBOXYPHYLLINE
• TUBOTAIWINE
• VOAPHYLLINE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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