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Corynanthe 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 and have been marketed in developed countries as dietary supplements.[2][3]

Yohimbe
Scientific classification
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 zenkeri W.Brandt

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.[4]

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.[4] Over-exploitation has led to concerns that C. johimbe is becoming an endangered species.[5]

Uses

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][4]

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]}

See also

• Coffea
• Mitragyna speciosa
• List of herbs with known adverse effects

References

На других языках

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[de] Yohimbe

Der Yohimbe (Corynanthe johimbe, Syn.: Pausinystalia johimbe) ist ein im tropischen Zentralafrika, Kamerun, Gabun und Kongogebiet, bis Nigeria, beheimateter Baum aus der Familie der Rötegewächse.

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- [en] Corynanthe johimbe

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[ru] Йохимбе

Йохи́мбе (лат. Pausinystalia johimbe) — растение семейства Мареновые (Rubiaceae), вид рода Pausinystalia, произрастающее в тропических лесах Западной Африки, в частности в Габоне, Камеруне и Конго.

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