Corynanthe johimbe

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Yohimbe
Pau de cabinda.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Corynanthe
Species:
C. johimbe
Binomial name
Corynanthe johimbe
K.Schum.
Synonyms [1]
  • Pausinystalia johimbe(K.Schum.) Pierre
  • Pausinystalia zenkeriW.Brandt

Corynanthe johimbe, synonym Pausinystalia johimbe, common name yohimbe, is a plant species in the family Rubiaceae native to western and central Africa (Nigeria, Cabinda, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea). [1] Extracts from yohimbe have been used in traditional medicine in West Africa as an aphrodisiac, called in some languages burantashi, and have been marketed in developed countries as dietary supplements. [2] [3]

Contents

Synonyms

Botanical

According to Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online, the accepted name is Corynanthe johimbe K.Schum (first published in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 3: 94, 1901) and it has the following recognised synonyms:

Homotypic:

Heterotypic:

Scientific (general)

In scientific papers generally (i.e. not just in specialist botanical literature) the usage Pausinystalia johimbe is the most frequent, followed by Pausinystalia yohimbe. [5]

Description

Yohimbe is one of a number of Corynanthe evergreen species growing in West and Central Africa in lowland forests. The tree grows about 30m tall, with a straight bole that is rarely larger than 50–60 cm in diameter. The bark is grey to reddish-brown, with longitudinal fissures, easy to peel and bitter-tasting. The inner bark is pinkish and fibrous. The sapwood is yellowish and the heartwood is ochre-yellow; the wood is fine-grained and relatively dense and moderately hard. The leaves grow in groups of three, with short (about 2 cm) petioles. The blades are oval-shaped, 11–47 cm long and 5–17 cm wide. [6]

Conservation

The demand for yohimbe bark has led to over-exploitation, with the possibility of long-term threat to sustainability of the species. Cameroon is the biggest exporter. [6] Over-exploitation has led to concerns that C. johimbe is becoming an endangered species. [7]

Uses

Yohimbe bark Yohimbe.jpg
Yohimbe bark

The wood and bark are used for firewood and construction. Bark the most commercially important product is used in extractions to make tinctures for traditional medicine and dietary supplements. [2] [6]

The main phytochemical in the extract is the indoloquinolizidine alkaloid yohimbine. It also contains other alkaloids, such as corynanthine and raubasine, with undefined properties, adding further to concerns about its safety. [2] [3]

Human use and adverse effects

Extracts from yohimbe bark are used in West African traditional medicine in the belief that it is a herbal tonic and aphrodisiac. [2] [3] Yohimbe bark and extract are used in manufactured dietary supplements, but there is no scientific evidence they have any effect, and yohimbine levels may vary substantially among supplement products. [2] [3]

Although proposed as a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction in humans, there are concerns about its safety or effectiveness. [2] [3] Side effects of using yohimbe, particularly in high doses, may include hypertension, increased heart rate, headache, nausea, tremors, and insomnia. [2] Yohimbe bark extract has been declared as insufficiently characterized and possibly unsafe to consume by the European Union and US National Institutes of Health. Yohimbine specifically has so been declared by the European Union, but not by the US National Institutes of Health. [2] [3] [ additional citation(s) needed ]

Toxicity

Ogwo et al found that the median lethal dose of yohimbe powdered bark was 1075 mg/kg in mice. (Their paper notes that the material is called burantashi in Nigeria.) [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs like cannabis or cocaine are classified into plant-based and non-plant-based substances. There are non-naturally-occurring aphrodisiacs like MDMA and methamphetamine. Aphrodisiacs can be classified by their type of effects. Aphrodisiacs that contain hallucinogenic properties like Bufotenin have psychological effects on a person that can increase sexual desire and sexual pleasure. Aphrodisiacs that contain smooth muscle relaxing properties like yohimbine have physiological effects on a person that can affect hormone levels and increase blood flow.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phytochemical</span> Chemical compounds produced by plants

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rauwolscine</span> Chemical compound

Rauwolscine, also known as isoyohimbine, α-yohimbine, and corynanthidine, is an alkaloid found in various species within the genera Rauvolfia and Corynanthe. It is a stereoisomer of yohimbine. Rauwolscine is a central nervous system stimulant, a local anesthetic and a vague aphrodisiac.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corynanthine</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 "Corynanthe johimbe K.Schum.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Yohimbe". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. July 2012. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Beille, P. E. (2013). "Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the safety in use of Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)". EFSA Journal . 11: 1–46. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3302 .
  4. Kew Science. "Corynanthe johimbe K.Schum" . Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  5. The database Google Scholar interrogated with alternative names (access date 13 December 2022), gave:
    • Corynanthe johimbe = 619 books or papers
    • Corynanthe yohimbe = 895 books or papers
    • Pausinystalia johimbe = 2,090 books or papers
    • Pausinystalia yohimbe = 1,590 books or papers.
  6. 1 2 3 R.b. Jiofack Tafokou. Pausinystalia johimbe. pp 516-519 in Timbers Volume 2; Volume 7 of Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Eds. Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A., G.J.H Grubben. PROTA Foundation, 2012. ISBN   9789290814955
  7. Rao, M.R.; Palada, M.C.; Becker, B.N. (2013). "Medicinal and aromatic plants in agroforestry systems". In Nain, P.K.R.; Rao, M.R.; Buck, L.E. (eds.). New Vistas in Agroforestry: A Compendium for the 1st World Congress of Agroforestry, 2004. Vol. 1. Springer Science and Business Media. p. 109. ISBN   978-9401724241.
  8. Ogwo, E.U; Osim, E.E.; Nwankwo, A.A.; Ijioma, N.N. (2016). "Semen Quality in Male Albino Rats Fed With Various Concentrations of Pausinystalia Yohimbe Bark Powder (Burantashi)". Journal of Medical and Dental Science Research. 3 (1): 16–24. ISSN   2394-076X., pp= 16, 18.