Tabernaemontana africana root powder The genus name Tabernaemontana is taken from the name of a 16 th Century physician and herbalist, Jacob Theodore. He latinized his name to Tabernaemontanus. Ventricosa refers to having a swelling on one side, being pot-bellied and probably refers to the shape of the fruits. The root bark is the part of the plant that is used mostly, it is reported to contain up to twelve alkaloids, with Ibogaine being by far the major alkaloid, and apparently responsible for most of the activity, other alkaloids reported include Tabernanthine, Ibogamine, Coronaridine and Voacangine. The dried root bark has been found to contain up to 5-6 % alkaloids, which may even be lower than for fresh material due to some of the alkaloids oxidising as the material dries.
Ibogaine is reported to be a cholinesterase inhibitor here, which in people causes mainly hypotension due to decreased cardiac output and stimulation of digestion and appetite. Its use as a stimulant and aphrodisiac, and in larger amounts as a divinatory medicine, with some similarities to the use of both ayahuasca and peyote on the American continent.
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