Yohimbe Extract

Yohimbe Extract is derived from the stem bark of Pausinystalia johimbe (K. Schum.) Pierre ex Beille, belonging to the Rubiaceae family. Yohimbe bark is characterized by a group of naturally occurring indole alkaloids, with yohimbine being the principal and most analytically important alkaloid. Other reported alkaloids include corynanthine, rauwolscine, ajmalicine and related indole alkaloids.

The concentration of yohimbine in unstandardized Yohimbe bark can vary considerably. Analytical studies of commercial bark materials have reported approximately 0.1–0.91% yohimbine, while authentic bark and concentrated extracts can show substantially different concentrations depending on extraction and standardization.

For this reason, Yohimbe Extract should not be assigned a universal active percentage. A commercial standardized extract may, for example, be manufactured to a declared yohimbine specification, but the percentage must be taken from the actual supplier specification/COA. A published analytical study has examined a commercial extract declared at 20% yohimbine, demonstrating that highly concentrated standardized grades exist.

Yohimbine can be accurately quantified using HPLC-UV, UHPLC-DAD or UHPLC-MS/MS. Modern chromatographic methods are particularly useful because they can distinguish yohimbine from closely related alkaloids such as corynanthine.