Pausinystalia johimbe

Pausinystalia johimbe, (Rubiaceae), common name Yohimbe, is a plant species native to western and central Africa (Nigeria, Cabinda, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea).^[1] The epithet “johimbe” is often misspelled “yohimbe” including by Beille in his 1906 recombination statement formally transferring the species from Corynanthe.^[2] Schumann’s original 1901 description used the spelling “johimbe,”^[3] and Beille clearly cited Schumann’s name as basionym.^[2] Therefore “yohimbe” used as a formal specific epithet is a spelling error to be corrected per article 60.1 of the ICN. No such rules, of course, apply to common names.

Structural formula of yohimbine

Pausinystalia johimbe a psychoactive plant that contains the MAOI alkaloid yohimbine. It is widely distributed over the counter as an herbal aphrodisiac. Yohimbine has been reputed to be helpful for men with erectile dysfunction (ED). This herbal medication can cause tachycardia and hypertension if improperly dosed and should generally be used only under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in herbal medicine. In addition to yohimbine, Yohimbe also contains 55 other alkaloids. Yohimbine accounts for 1–20 percent of its total alkaloid content. Among the others is corynanthine, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blocker.^[4] Hence, the use of yohimbe extract in sufficient dosages may provide concomitant alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors blockade and thus may better enhance erections than yohimbine alone.^[5]

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