Background
The plant alkaloid ibogaine has shown promising anti-addictive properties in animals and humans. Although not licensed as a therapeutic drug, and despite evidence that ibogaine may disturb the rhythm of the heart, this alkaloid is used as an anti-addiction drug in alternative medicine. We have recently reported that therapeutic concentrations of ibogaine inhibit human ERG (hERG) potassium channels, and thereby uncovered a mechanism by which the drug may induce life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.