Psychedelic Therapy · Plant
Voacanga africana
Voacanga africana Stapf ex Scott Elliot · also called Small-fruit wild frangipani (English); voacanga d'Afrique (French)
Danger first: this African tree has no human safety data, and its main bark alkaloid blocks a heart channel in lab tests. Sources describe its bark as a commercial starting material for ibogaine made in a lab, and ibogaine can cause deadly heart rhythms. Folk medicine uses are reported, but no trial in people exists. Do not treat any Voacanga product as safe.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. The traditional-use wording has not had Indigenous or cultural review. How this page is made
About Voacanga africana
Voacanga africana is a small tropical African tree in the dogbane family. Its root bark and seeds hold many alkaloids, including voacangine and tabersonine. Chemistry papers describe the bark as a commercial source of ibogaine made in a lab. No human trial exists, and voacangine blocks a heart channel in lab tests.
What it is
Voacanga africana Stapf ex Scott Elliot is an accepted species in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), the family of the iboga shrub. GBIF records place it widely across Africa, from West Africa to Central, East and southern Africa.
The root bark is the part linked to voacangine and ibogaine-type alkaloids. The seeds are described as holding mainly tabersonine in the products studied, plus fatty acids and other alkaloids.
The link to ibogaine and iboga
Ibogaine, the iboga alkaloid, comes from a different tree, iboga (Tabernanthe iboga). Chemistry papers call Voacanga bark the primary source of commercial semisynthetic ibogaine. This page does not describe how that is done.
Tabernanthalog is sometimes mentioned alongside this research. It is a laboratory-made analogue of ibogaine tested in rodents, not a compound taken from this tree.
Read the ibogaine page for the heart risk and the research, and the iboga page for the other tree and the Bwiti tradition.
Traditional use
A review of the genus reports folk use for leprosy, diarrhoea, swelling, convulsions in children, orchitis, ectopic testes and gonorrhoea. A 2009 paper says the tree is traditionally used in Africa for religious purposes.
The sources we read do not name the peoples or practices. Tradition is not clinical evidence, and credit belongs to the communities who hold this knowledge. This page does not describe practices.
What research shows
There are no human trials. The studies are chemistry, cell work, mice and rats, and market surveys.
Mice: one extract protected most mice from induced convulsions. Cells: voacangine slowed blood-vessel growth and acted on temperature-sensing channels. None of this shows benefit in people.
Legal status
Not legal advice; laws differ by country and change. In the US, ibogaine is a Schedule I drug. A text search of the federal drug schedules (version dated 21 October 2026) found no entry naming Voacanga or voacangine, which does not mean every use is lawful.
A 2016 paper describes Voacanga preparations as becoming popular as a legal high in Europe. Other countries were not checked.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Folk medicine in West and Central Africa for conditions such as diarrhoea, swelling and convulsions in children (genus review; peoples not named in the abstract).
- Described as used in Africa for religious purposes (2009 paper). This page does not describe practices.
Studied for research
- Seizure protection (mice only), very low
- Blood-vessel growth in cells (voacangine, lab only), insufficient
- Addiction research: only via other compounds, not the plant, insufficient
- Traditional uses: insufficient (not tested in people)
Main compounds
- Voacangine, the main root bark alkaloid
- Tabersonine, the main seed alkaloid in products studied
- Small amounts of ibogaine in some products
Common forms
Research links: Voacangine in rats and hERG (abstract) · Chemistry and biology of the genus Voacanga (abstract) · Voacanga product analysis, Japan (abstract) · Plant record (GBIF) · US federal Schedule I list (eCFR) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Voacanga africana
- Naming authority
- Stapf ex Scott Elliot
- Synonyms
- Voacanga africana var. auriculata Pichon; Voacanga africana var. glabra (K.Schum.) Pichon; Voacanga africana var. lutescens (Stapf) Pichon; Voacanga angolensis Stapf; Voacanga glabra K.Schum.; Voacanga lutescens Stapf; Voacanga schweinfurthii Stapf (and others listed by GBIF)
- Common names
- Small-fruit wild frangipani (English); Voacanga d'Afrique (French); Cata-grande (Portuguese)
- Family or group
- Apocynaceae (the dogbane family), the same family as the iboga shrub
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Voacanga > Voacanga africana
- Native range
- GBIF distribution records (WCVP) list West Africa (Senegal to Nigeria), Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Angola, East Africa (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan) and southern Africa (Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique). Listed as introduced in Yunnan, China.
- Habitat
- Described as a small tropical African tree (Kikura-Hanajiri 2009; Hussain 2012 for the genus). Fine habitat detail was not read.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Root bark is used as a source of alkaloids (Terada 2014; Krengel 2020).; Stems: Small tree; stem bark also named as a source (Krengel 2020).; Leaves: Not checked.; Flowers: Not checked.; Fruit: Seeds hold alkaloids and fatty acids (Coon and Musah 2023); mainly tabersonine in the products studied (Kikura-Hanajiri 2009).
- Cultivation
- Not covered on this page.
- Harvest and processing
- Not covered on this page. A 2010 survey says tons of seeds are exported from Ghana each year.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Other Voacanga species and Tabernaemontana trees; Note: Related trees in the same family are studied as alternative alkaloid sources. DNA analysis of products suggested some came from V. africana "or closely related plants".
- Sustainability and conservation
- GBIF reports IUCN Red List category Least Concern (IUCN taxon 173360025). Wild harvest and export for seeds and bark are described but ecological impact data are scanty (van Andel 2012).
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West and Central African folk medicine | A genus review lists traditional uses for leprosy, diarrhoea, swelling, convulsions in children, orchitis, ectopic testes and gonorrhoea. A 2009 paper says the tree is traditionally used in Africa for religious purposes. Which peoples and practices are meant was not read. | p22834977 |
| Modern trade | Seeds are exported from Ghana in tons each year (2010 survey). Products are sold in some markets for supposed hallucinogenic or aphrodisiac effect, and described as a legal high in Europe (2016). Chemistry papers call the bark a commercial source of semisynthetic ibogaine. | p22306470 |
| 1950s research | French papers from 1955 and 1956 describe voacangine and a heart-tonic extract (voacaline). Read by title only; NOT verified. | s-la-barre-1956 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voacangine PubChem 73255 | iboga-type indole alkaloid | Root bark Voacangine from an extract was quantified as 9.71 percent of a root bark extract in a rat study; this is one extract, not a typical value. | Potent hERG channel blocker in vitro; blocks TRPV1/TRPM8 and activates TRPA1 in cells; slows blood-vessel growth in cells. 13 9 10 7 | Lab and rat |
| Tabersonine PubChem 20485 | indole alkaloid | Seeds 0.6 to 1.6 percent in tabersonine-type products (Japan, 2009). | Not covered in this page. 14 6 | Product analysis |
| Ibogaine (small amounts in some products) PubChem 197060 | iboga alkaloid | Bark (some products) 0.05 to 0.6 percent in ibogaine-type products (Japan, 2009). | See the ibogaine page. 6 | Product analysis |
| Voacamine, voacamidine and other alkaloids | indole alkaloids | Bark; seeds Present in products; amounts not read. | Not covered. 6 4 | Product analysis |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| hERG potassium channel (heart) | hERG (KCNH2) | Voacangine described as a potent hERG blocker in vitro. 9 | Lab |
| Temperature-sensing channels | TRPV1, TRPM8, TRPA1 | Blocks TRPV1 and TRPM8 and activates TRPA1 in engineered cells. 10 | Lab |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- In rats, oral bioavailability of voacangine was 11 to 13 percent; differences in absorption were seen between pure compound and bark extract.
- Distribution
- Not read.
- Metabolism
- Not read.
- Elimination
- Not read.
- Bioavailability
- 11 to 13 percent (rats). No human data.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Nearly all published work is on isolated compounds (voacangine) in cells or rats. No human study of bark, seeds or extracts was found. Tabernanthalog is a laboratory-made analogue of ibogaine, not a plant compound; it is described only in rodents.
Nutritional composition
Voacanga is not a food or nutrient.
1 very low certainty5 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 6 benefits and uses checked for Voacanga africana, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Addiction research (via ibogaine-type compounds)Not enough evidence
- Traditional medicine uses (as reported for the genus)Not enough evidence
- Seizure protection and sedation (mice)Very low certainty
- Blood-vessel growth in cells (voacangine)Not enough evidence
- Temperature and pain-sensing channels (voacangine)Not enough evidence
- Sexual enhancement (traditional and market claim)Not enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
hERG heart channel block (lab)
What is Voacanga africana good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is. None of it comes from studies in people. Most is cell or mouse work, or tradition.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Addiction research (via ibogaine-type compounds)
Not enough evidenceVoacanga africana has not been tested in people for addiction. It matters to this research only because sources say its bark is a commercial starting material for ibogaine made in a lab. Research on ibogaine for opioid dependence is on the purified compound, is mostly small and uncontrolled, and carries serious heart risk. It says nothing proven about this tree.
3 studiesNot given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana …
Studies, doses and limits
Results
Review of sourcing: one chemistry paper calls V. africana root and stem bark the primary source of commercially available semisynthetic ibogaine. No outcome data for people.
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size.
Why this rating
No human studies of V. africana. The related ibogaine research is mostly open-label and unsafe at heart level; it cannot be transferred to the tree or to bark products.
Form and dose studied
Not given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana preparation exists.
Limits
Do not read any ibogaine finding as a finding about this plant. Bark products are not standardised (one Japanese market study found ibogaine-type and tabersonine-type products).
Why researchers looked
Ibogaine-type compounds have been studied for addiction, and researchers have looked for plant sources of related alkaloids.
Traditional use
Not a traditional use. Traditional uses recorded for the genus are listed below.
Proposed mechanism Lab animal
Voacangine, the main root bark alkaloid, blocks a heart channel (hERG) in the lab and acts on several temperature-sensing channels in cells. No addiction mechanism for the plant has been shown.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the Safety tab first. The plant has no human safety data, and its main alkaloid blocks a heart channel in the lab.
Traditional medicine uses (as reported for the genus)
Not enough evidenceA review of the genus Voacanga reports traditional use for leprosy, diarrhoea, swelling, convulsions in children, orchitis, ectopic testes and gonorrhoea. These are reports of tradition. They have not been tested in controlled human studies, and nothing here shows the plant treats any of them.
2 studiesNot given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana …
Studies, doses and limits
Results
The review lists uses; it does not report patient outcomes.
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size.
Why this rating
Traditional reports only. No trials, no outcome data, genus-level rather than species-level.
Form and dose studied
Not given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana preparation exists.
Limits
The review covers the whole genus, not only this species. Folk preparations vary widely.
Why researchers looked
People in West and Central Africa have long used Voacanga plants in folk medicine, which is why scientists studied them.
Traditional use
Reported by a genus-level review; the peoples and regions are not named in the abstract we read. Seed and bark are traded from Ghana. Traditional knowledge belongs to the communities who hold it.
Proposed mechanism Lab animal
Not established. Cell and mouse work exists (see Other studied uses).
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the Safety tab first. The plant has no human safety data, and its main alkaloid blocks a heart channel in the lab.
Seizure protection and sedation (mice)
Very low certaintyIn one mouse study a V. africana extract protected 62.5 to 87.5 percent of mice against induced convulsions and lengthened diazepam-induced sleep. This is animal research with an unstandardised extract. It does not show benefit in people.
2 studiesNot given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana …
Studies, doses and limits
Results
Mice protected 62.5 to 87.5 percent depending on the seizure model (extract, not stated dose).
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size.
Why this rating
Mouse study only; extract not described in the abstract; no human data.
Form and dose studied
Not given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana preparation exists.
Who was studied
Mice.
Limits
Animal result; may not apply to people.
Why researchers looked
Folk use for convulsions in children led to testing in animal seizure models.
Traditional use
The genus review lists convulsions in children as a traditional use.
Proposed mechanism Lab animal
Not shown.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the Safety tab first. The plant has no human safety data, and its main alkaloid blocks a heart channel in the lab.
Blood-vessel growth in cells (voacangine)
Not enough evidenceIn cells and a chick egg model, voacangine slowed new blood-vessel growth. This is a lab finding on one isolated compound. It is not a treatment, and nothing here suggests the plant helps cancer.
1 studiesNot given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana …
Studies, doses and limits
Results
IC50 18 micromolar in blood-vessel cells (lab).
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size.
Why this rating
Cell and egg-model work only.
Form and dose studied
Not given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana preparation exists.
Who was studied
Cells.
Limits
Lab concentrations may not be reachable in a person, and cell results often do not hold in people.
Why researchers looked
Researchers screen plant compounds that might slow blood-vessel growth.
Traditional use
Not a traditional use.
Proposed mechanism Lab animal
Lowered HIF-1 alpha and VEGF in cells.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the Safety tab first. The plant has no human safety data, and its main alkaloid blocks a heart channel in the lab.
Temperature and pain-sensing channels (voacangine)
Not enough evidenceIn engineered cells voacangine blocked two channels involved in heat and cold sensing and activated a third. It is early lab research on one compound.
1 studiesNot given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana …
Studies, doses and limits
Results
Micromolar activity in cells (EC50 8 micromolar at TRPA1).
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size.
Why this rating
Cell study only.
Form and dose studied
Not given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana preparation exists.
Who was studied
Cells.
Limits
No animal or human data in the abstract.
Why researchers looked
Researchers look for natural compounds that act on pain and temperature sensors.
Traditional use
Not a traditional use.
Proposed mechanism Lab animal
Antagonist at TRPV1 and TRPM8 and agonist at TRPA1 in cells.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the Safety tab first. The plant has no human safety data, and its main alkaloid blocks a heart channel in the lab.
Sexual enhancement (traditional and market claim)
Not enough evidenceSome products are sold or used as an aphrodisiac. A 2020 review included Voacanga africana among 15 herbal sexual enhancers when it looked at side effects, but the abstract gives no benefit data. We found no trial showing it works.
2 studiesNot given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana …
Studies, doses and limits
Results
No benefit outcomes reported.
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size.
Why this rating
Claims only; no trials.
Form and dose studied
Not given on this page. No controlled human study of any V. africana preparation exists.
Limits
The review looked at harms, not benefit.
Why researchers looked
Traditional and market reputation.
Traditional use
Described as a hallucinogenic or aphrodisiac plant in a 2009 product study.
Proposed mechanism Lab animal
Not shown.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
See the Safety tab first. The plant has no human safety data, and its main alkaloid blocks a heart channel in the lab.
Connections to the rest of health
How Voacanga africana connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nervous System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Addiction research (via ibogaine-type compounds) Studied for: Traditional medicine uses (as reported for the genus) | 8 6 9 5 2 10 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Blood-vessel growth in cells (voacangine) | 7 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Sexual enhancement (traditional and market claim) | 1 6 |
C. Body parts and organs
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart | Adverse effect or risk | Not enough evidence | Potent hERG block in vitro and low oral bioavailability in rats; no human data. Potent hERG block in vitro and low bioavailability in rats; no human data. Preparation or compound: Voacangine; root bark |
9 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hERG heart channel block (lab) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: blocked (lab finding). A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 9 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCNH2 (hERG) | Preliminary mechanism | Lab | Heart channel blocked by voacangine in the lab. | 9 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voacangine | Biological association | Lab and rat | Potent hERG channel blocker in vitro; blocks TRPV1/TRPM8 and activates TRPA1 in cells; slows blood-vessel growth in cells. Preparation or compound: Root bark |
13 9 10 7 |
| Tabersonine | Biological association | Product analysis | Not covered in this page. Preparation or compound: Seeds |
14 6 |
| Ibogaine (small amounts in some products) | Biological association | Product analysis | See the ibogaine page. Preparation or compound: Bark (some products) |
6 |
| Voacamine, voacamidine and other alkaloids | Biological association | Product analysis | Not covered. Preparation or compound: Bark; seeds |
6 4 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what the research found for 6 outcomes
Each outcome below is one thing researchers measured. Certainty is how far the evidence can be trusted, not how well it works. The full studies are on the next tab.
The evidence
The research centre for Voacanga africana. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed, read the abstracts of 11 papers, checked the plant name in GBIF and compounds in PubChem, and searched the US federal drug schedules through the eCFR. Only abstracts were read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading.
Study library: every study we checked 16
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunetti 2020 Pharmacology of Herbal Sexual Enhancers: A Review of Psychiatric and Neurological Adverse Effects. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) · PMID 33066617 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Review of 15 herbal aphrodisiacs, including Voacanga africana (literature to June 2020) | Herbal aphrodisiacs Various Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
The review includes Voacanga africana among 15 herbal sexual enhancers. Overall it says most appeared safe at therapeutic doses, but mild to severe adverse effects may occur with overdosing or self-medication with unstandardised products; drug interactions are more concerning; and few data exist for several of the plants. Narrative Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Psychiatric and neurological adverse effects Limitations: The abstract does not give findings for Voacanga on its own. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Bum 2009 Validation of anticonvulsant and sedative activity of six medicinal plants. Epilepsy & Behavior · PMID 19162225 · DOI |
Animal research mouse |
Mice, several seizure models | V. africana extract (one of six plants) Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
V. africana protected 62.5 to 87.5 percent of mice against convulsions and turning behaviour and, like most of the other plants, lengthened diazepam-induced sleep. Percent of mice protected Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Protection from induced convulsions; sleep time with diazepam Limitations: Mouse study; no human data; extract not standardised in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Cameron 2021 A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential. Nature · PMID 33299186 · DOI |
Preclinical rodent |
Rodents | Tabernanthalog (laboratory-made ibogaine analogue) Synthetic Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
The authors describe tabernanthalog as a water-soluble, non-hallucinogenic analogue of ibogaine engineered by design. In rodents it promoted neural plasticity and reduced alcohol- and heroin-seeking. It is a laboratory-made compound, not a plant extract. Preclinical Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Plasticity, alcohol- and heroin-seeking behaviour, antidepressant-like effects Limitations: Rodent work only. The abstract states it can be prepared in a single step in the lab; no such detail is given here. Authors include company founders (not read in the abstract). Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Coon 2023 Investigation of Small-Molecule Constituents in Voacanga africana Seeds and Mapping of Their Spatial Distributions Using Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real-Time Imaging-Mass Spectrometry (LADI-MS). ACS Omega · PMID 37546641 · DOI |
Phytochemical analysis plant-chemistry |
V. africana seeds | Seed constituents Seeds Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
Identified 31 newly reported compounds in V. africana seeds, in addition to six already known. Alkaloids, mainly in the seed endosperm, included strictamine, akuammidine, polyneruidine, vobasine and delta-14-vincamine. Fatty acids were in the embryo. The authors note iboga alkaloids are usually isolated from leaves, bark or roots of Tabernanthe or Voacanga trees. Descriptive Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compounds found in seeds and where they sit Limitations: Chemistry paper; says nothing about effects in people. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Hussain 2012 Chemistry and biology of the genus Voacanga. Pharmaceutical Biology · PMID 22834977 · DOI |
Narrative review review-of-lab-and-traditional-reports |
Review of 44 references on the genus Voacanga (111 natural products) | Voacanga plant extracts and constituents Various parts Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
Reports traditional use for leprosy, diarrhoea, general swelling (oedema), convulsions in children, orchitis, ectopic testes and gonorrhoea. Indole alkaloids and steroids are the main compound classes. Products from the genus are reported to have been used for cancer, nervous-system, heart-tonic (cardiotonic), antituberculosis and anti-diarrhoeal activity. Narrative; no pooled effect Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, constituents, reported pharmacology Limitations: Genus-level review, not specific to one species. The abstract gives no detail on the strength of any activity. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kikura-Hanajiri 2009 [Chemical and DNA analyses for the products of a psychoactive plant, Voacanga africana]. Yakugaku Zasshi · PMID 19652504 · DOI |
Product analysis product-analysis |
Commercial products containing V. africana root bark and seeds (Japan drug market) | Commercial V. africana products Root bark and seeds Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
The tree is described as traditionally used in Africa for religious purposes. Products were sold in expectation of hallucinogenic or aphrodisiac effects. Products fell into two chemical types: an ibogaine-type (ibogaine 0.05 to 0.6 percent, with voacamine, voacamidine and voacangine) and a tabersonine-type (mainly tabersonine, 0.6 to 1.6 percent). DNA tests suggested most came from V. africana or close relatives. Descriptive Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Alkaloid content and botanical origin of products Limitations: Japanese market samples from about 2009. Says nothing about safety or about products sold today. Abstract in English; paper in Japanese. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kim 2012 A natural small molecule voacangine inhibits angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications · PMID 22155252 · DOI |
Cell lab and egg model cell-and-chick-model |
Human umbilical vein cells and chick egg membrane model | Voacangine Isolated from V. africana Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
Voacangine reduced growth of blood-vessel cells (IC50 18 micromolar) and new-vessel formation in cells and in a chick egg membrane model, and lowered HIF-1 alpha and VEGF. The authors call it a novel anti-angiogenic compound. Lab only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: New blood-vessel growth (angiogenesis) Limitations: Cell and egg-membrane model; not a treatment in any person. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Krengel 2020 Quantitative Evaluation of a Mexican and a Ghanaian Tabernaemontana Species as Alternatives to Voacanga africana for the Production of Antiaddictive Ibogan Type Alkaloids. Chemistry & Biodiversity · PMID 32232967 · DOI |
Phytochemical analysis plant-chemistry |
Bark and leaves of two Tabernaemontana species compared with V. africana root and stem bark | Plant alkaloid profiles Root and stem bark Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
The paper calls V. africana root and stem bark the primary source of commercially available semisynthetic ibogaine, and names voacangine and ibogaine as the alkaloids of interest. It proposes a Mexican tree as a possible alternative source. Descriptive Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Alkaloid profiles Limitations: Chemistry paper. It describes sourcing, not medical benefit or safety. Method detail is deliberately not reproduced here. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Mair 2016 Pharmacokinetics of hERG Channel Blocking Voacangine in Wistar Rats Applying a Validated LC-ESI-MS/MS Method. Planta Medica · PMID 27257769 · DOI |
Animal pharmacokinetic rat |
Male Wistar rats | Voacangine as a pure compound and as a V. africana root bark extract Root bark Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
Authors say V. africana preparations are used in West and Central African folk medicine and are becoming popular as a legal high in Europe. Voacangine was recently found to be a potent hERG channel blocker in vitro, which might mean cardiotoxicity. In rats, absolute oral bioavailability was 11 to 13 percent. The authors say the cardiotoxic risk might be negligible in healthy consumers but may matter with drug interactions and impaired health. Bioavailability 11-13% (rats) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood levels of voacangine (absorption, bioavailability) Limitations: Rat study; human heart risk was not measured. Authors reason from low bioavailability. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Terada 2014 Activation and inhibition of thermosensitive TRP channels by voacangine, an alkaloid present in Voacanga africana, an African tree. Journal of Natural Products · PMID 24484240 · DOI |
Cell lab cell-lab |
Cells engineered to carry temperature-sensing channels | Voacangine Root bark Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
Voacangine is described as an alkaloid in V. africana root bark. In cells it blocked TRPV1 and TRPM8 and activated TRPA1. The authors suggest it could inspire a new class of TRPM8 blockers. Lab concentrations in the micromolar range Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Activity on TRPV1, TRPM8 and TRPA1 channels Limitations: Cell study only; no animal or human data in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| n/a 2026 La Barre J, Gillo L. Cardiotonic properties of a new alkaloid extract from Voacanga africana: voacaline. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil (1956), PMID 13414259 n/a · Source |
Title only n/a |
n/a | n/a |
PubMed lists this 1956 French paper with a title on heart-tonic properties of a V. africana extract. No abstract is available, so nothing beyond the title was read. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: PubMed lists this 1956 French paper with a title on heart-tonic properties of a V. africana extract. No abstract is available, so nothing beyond the title was read. Limitations: Title only; NOT verified beyond the title. Read: title-only |
| n/a 2026 eCFR 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15 (US federal drug schedules), version dated 2026-10-21, retrieved 2026-10-25 n/a · Source |
Regulator text n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Section 1308.11 (Schedule I) lists Ibogaine, DEA code 7260, with Tabernanthe iboga among its other names. A text search of sections 1308.11 to 1308.15 found no entry naming Voacanga or voacangine. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Section 1308.11 (Schedule I) lists Ibogaine, DEA code 7260, with Tabernanthe iboga among its other names. A text search of sections 1308.11 to 1308.15 found no entry naming Voacanga or voacangine. Limitations: A text search of the schedule lists only. It does not say what other federal or state law may apply, and it is not legal advice. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 PubChem: Voacangine (CID 73255) n/a · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Voacangine, formula C22H28N2O3, molecular weight 368.5 (queried 2026-10-25 via PubChem REST). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Voacangine, formula C22H28N2O3, molecular weight 368.5 (queried 2026-10-25 via PubChem REST). Limitations: Database record for the chemical only. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 PubChem: Tabersonine (CID 20485) n/a · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Tabersonine, formula C21H24N2O2, molecular weight 336.4 (queried 2026-10-25 via PubChem REST). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Tabersonine, formula C21H24N2O2, molecular weight 336.4 (queried 2026-10-25 via PubChem REST). Limitations: Database record for the chemical only. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Voacanga africana Stapf ex Scott Elliot (retrieved 2026-10-25 by API) n/a · Source |
Database record n/a |
n/a | n/a |
Accepted species, family Apocynaceae, order Gentianales. Many synonyms listed. English vernacular name given as small-fruit wild frangipani. Distribution records (World Checklist of Vascular Plants) cover West, Central, East and southern Africa; introduced in Yunnan, China. IUCN Red List category Least Concern (IUCN taxon 173360025). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted species, family Apocynaceae, order Gentianales. Many synonyms listed. English vernacular name given as small-fruit wild frangipani. Distribution records (World Checklist of Vascular Plants) cover West, Central, East and southern Africa; introduced in Yunnan, China. IUCN Red List category Least Concern (IUCN taxon 173360025). Limitations: A database record, not a field study. Plants of the World Online was not queried. Read: full-text |
| van Andel 2012 Ghana's herbal market. Journal of Ethnopharmacology · PMID 22306470 · DOI |
Market survey n/a |
27 stalls in Ghana's herbal markets, August 2010 | Traded medicinal plants Seeds Not reproduced on this page See abstract |
Reports that tons of Griffonia simplicifolia and Voacanga africana seeds and Fadogia agrestis bark are exported from Ghana each year, with scanty data on revenue, and that none of these were sold on the domestic market. Calls for research on the ecological impact of medicinal plant extraction. Descriptive Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Species traded and tonnage Limitations: Mentions Voacanga only briefly. A 2010 survey. Funding and conflicts: Not read in the abstract. Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- No human trial of any Voacanga africana product.
- No human heart (QT) data.
- No safety data for pregnancy, breastfeeding or children.
- Other countries' laws were not checked, and the 1956 heart-tonic paper was read by title only.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 1
hERG heart channel block (lab)
Blocked (lab finding) in trials
hERG is a potassium channel in heart cells that helps the heart reset between beats. Blocking it can lengthen the QT interval on a heart tracing.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Because voacangine, the main root bark alkaloid, was found to be a potent hERG blocker in vitro, and ibogaine (a related compound) is linked to dangerous heart rhythms.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A warning signal, not a benefit. It comes from the lab and rats, so we do not know the risk to people.
Safety implication
People with heart conditions or on QT-prolonging medicines face the greatest worry. Talk to a doctor.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 5
- Danger first: heart risk is a real worry, human data are missing. Voacangine, the main root bark alkaloid, was found to be a potent hERG channel blocker in lab tests. Blocking this heart channel can lengthen the QT interval. That is how related compounds such as ibogaine are linked to dangerous heart rhythms. In rats, the compound was poorly absorbed (11 to 13 percent), and the authors reason the risk may be small in healthy users but real with other medicines or poor health. No study has measured the heart effects of Voacanga bark or seeds in people. Lab and animal 9
- Products vary and are not checked. A Japanese market study found two kinds of Voacanga products: one with ibogaine and other alkaloids, and one mostly tabersonine. What is in a product cannot be assumed. Some products are sold for hallucinogenic or aphrodisiac effect. Product analysis 6
- Not the same as ibogaine or iboga, but related. Sources describe Voacanga bark as a commercial starting material for semisynthetic ibogaine. Ibogaine itself can cause fatal heart rhythm problems; see the ibogaine and iboga pages. Eating or using Voacanga bark or seeds is not the same as taking ibogaine, but no one knows how close the risk is. Secondary sources 8
- Possible heart-tonic activity reported. A genus review says products from Voacanga have been reported to have heart-tonic (cardiotonic) activity, and a 1956 French paper is titled as on heart-tonic properties of a V. africana extract. We read the review abstract and only the title of the 1956 paper. No source we read shows that the plant contains cardiac glycosides, so we do not claim that. Review and title only 5 11
- No data for pregnancy, breastfeeding or children. No source we read covers these. Avoid assuming safety. Gap
Side effects 2
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possible QT lengthening and dangerous heart rhythm (not shown in people for this plant) Inferred from lab hERG block by voacangine, not observed in people. | Unknown. No human data. | potentially life-threatening Unknown | Lab and rat 9 |
| Psychiatric and neurological adverse effects of herbal aphrodisiacs (class review, includes Voacanga) The review says drug interactions are the larger concern. | Not given for Voacanga in the abstract. | mild to severe in overdose or self-medication with unstandardised products (review wording) Unknown | Review 1 |
Liver
No source we read reports liver injury from Voacanga. This does not show it is safe for the liver.
How often. Not studied in the abstracts read.
Monitoring. No monitoring advice was read.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Voacanga africana supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 2
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart-rhythm (QT-lengthening) medicines and other heart-risk drugs prescription | Both could affect the heart's reset between beats. Voacangine blocks hERG in the lab. | The rat study authors say risk may matter with drug interactions and impaired health. Not tested in people. | Lab and rat inference Not enough evidence 9 | Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any Voacanga product. |
| Other herbal sexual enhancers or plant extracts herbal | Not established. | A review says people likely combine herbal aphrodisiacs with other plant extracts or drugs, and calls drug interactions the larger concern. | Review Not enough evidence 1 | Do not combine products without medical advice. |
Who should check first 1
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Any heart condition, heart rhythm problem, long QT or family history of sudden death | A doctor should decide. This page cannot clear anyone. The reason is the lab hERG finding and the known heart risk of related ibogaine. | Lab and rat inference 9 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. The root bark and seeds hold alkaloids. The best-signalled concern is the heart. No human toxicity study was found.
Animal. Rat pharmacokinetics only; oral bioavailability 11 to 13 percent. No lethal-dose data were read.
High dose or long term signals. Not studied in the abstracts read.
Overdose response. Poisoning is a medical emergency. See urgent signs.
Genotoxicity. Not read.
Toxic or hazardous parts. Root bark and seeds are the parts described as alkaloid-rich. Other parts were not covered.
Voacanga products are not made to medicine standards, so contents cannot be assumed.
Variable alkaloid content. In a Japanese market study, ibogaine-type products contained 0.05 to 0.6 percent ibogaine; tabersonine-type products held mainly tabersonine. DNA tests suggested most came from V. africana or close relatives. 6
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Drug Enforcement Administration, 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15 (United States) | Ibogaine (DEA code 7260) is in Schedule I, with Tabernanthe iboga among its other names. A text search of sections 1308.11 to 1308.15 (version dated 2026-10-21) found no entry naming Voacanga or voacangine. This does not say that every use is lawful: other federal or state rules may apply. source | 2026-10-25 |
When to get medical help
- Fainting, chest pain, a racing, slow or irregular heartbeat, seizures, trouble breathing, or being very hard to wake after any Voacanga or ibogaine product: call emergency services at once (US 911; UK 999; EU 112).
- In the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222 (a widely published number; not re-checked on a source page today). In other countries use the local poison centre or emergency line.
- Do not wait to see if it passes. Tell responders exactly what was taken.
If someone may be poisoned or in a crisis, contact a clinician or emergency service straight away. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Voacanga africana safe?
Is it the same as iboga or ibogaine?
No. Iboga is a different tree. Ibogaine is a compound. Chemistry papers describe Voacanga bark as a commercial source of ibogaine made in a lab, but eating the bark is not the same as taking ibogaine.
Why does it matter for the heart?
Voacangine blocked the hERG heart channel in lab tests. Blocking it can lengthen the QT interval and lead to dangerous rhythms. It has not been measured in people.
Does it contain cardiac glycosides?
What is it traditionally used for?
Does Voacanga treat addiction?
No. There are no human studies. Research on addiction is on ibogaine and related compounds, not on this tree.
What is tabernanthalog?
A laboratory-made analogue of ibogaine described in rodent studies. It is not extracted from this tree.
What do the seeds contain?
Is it legal?
It depends on the country and changes. In the US, ibogaine is Schedule I, and a text search of the federal schedules did not find Voacanga or voacangine named. This is not legal advice.
Is the tree endangered?
Can it interact with medicines?
What should I do after a bad reaction?
Fainting, chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, seizures or trouble breathing needs emergency help at once (US 911; UK 999; EU 112).
Explore by health goal
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We searched PubMed, read the abstracts of 11 papers, checked the plant name in GBIF and compounds in PubChem, and searched the US federal drug schedules through the eCFR. Only abstracts were read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted. No affiliate links are shown and none will be added. This page is information, not a recommendation.
Sources 16
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Brunetti P, Lo Faro AF, Tini A, et al. Pharmacology of Herbal Sexual Enhancers: A Review of Psychiatric and Neurological Adverse Effects.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020. PMID 33066617. DOI 10.3390/ph13100309. (abstract)
- Bum EN, Taiwe GS, Nkainsa LA, et al. Validation of anticonvulsant and sedative activity of six medicinal plants.. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2009. PMID 19162225. DOI 10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.12.022. (abstract)
- Cameron LP, Tombari RJ, Lu J, et al. A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential.. Nature. 2021. PMID 33299186. DOI 10.1038/s41586-020-3008-z. (abstract)
- Coon AM, Musah RA. Investigation of Small-Molecule Constituents in Voacanga africana Seeds and Mapping of Their Spatial Distributions Using Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real-Time Imaging-Mass Spectrometry (LADI-MS).. ACS Omega. 2023. PMID 37546641. DOI 10.1021/acsomega.3c02464. (abstract)
- Hussain H, Hussain J, Al-Harrasi A. Chemistry and biology of the genus Voacanga.. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2012. PMID 22834977. DOI 10.3109/13880209.2012.658478. (abstract)
- Kikura-Hanajiri R, Maruyama T, Miyashita A, et al. [Chemical and DNA analyses for the products of a psychoactive plant, Voacanga africana].. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2009. PMID 19652504. DOI 10.1248/yakushi.129.975. (abstract)
- Kim Y, Jung HJ, Kwon HJ, et al. A natural small molecule voacangine inhibits angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2012. PMID 22155252. DOI 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.11.109. (abstract)
- Krengel F, Dickinson J, Jenks C, et al. Quantitative Evaluation of a Mexican and a Ghanaian Tabernaemontana Species as Alternatives to Voacanga africana for the Production of Antiaddictive Ibogan Type Alkaloids.. Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2020. PMID 32232967. DOI 10.1002/cbdv.202000002. (abstract)
- Mair CE, de Miranda Silva C, Grienke U, et al. Pharmacokinetics of hERG Channel Blocking Voacangine in Wistar Rats Applying a Validated LC-ESI-MS/MS Method.. Planta Medica. 2016. PMID 27257769. DOI 10.1055/s-0042-107800. (abstract)
- Terada Y, Horie S, Takayama H, et al. Activation and inhibition of thermosensitive TRP channels by voacangine, an alkaloid present in Voacanga africana, an African tree.. Journal of Natural Products. 2014. PMID 24484240. DOI 10.1021/np400885u. (abstract)
- n/a. La Barre J, Gillo L. Cardiotonic properties of a new alkaloid extract from Voacanga africana: voacaline. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil (1956), PMID 13414259. n/a. 2026. (title-only)
- n/a. eCFR 21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15 (US federal drug schedules), version dated 2026-10-21, retrieved 2026-10-25. n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. PubChem: Voacangine (CID 73255). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. PubChem: Tabersonine (CID 20485). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Voacanga africana Stapf ex Scott Elliot (retrieved 2026-10-25 by API). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- van Andel T, Myren B, van Onselen S. Ghana's herbal market.. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2012. PMID 22306470. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2012.01.028. (abstract)
