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:
Pausinystalia johimbe (K.Schum.) Pierre in Actes Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 61: 130 (1906)
Pseudocinchona johimbe (K.Schum.) A.Chev. in : 266 (1926)
Heterotypic:
Pausinystalia trillesii Beille in Actes Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 61: 130 (1906)
Pausinystalia zenkeri W.Brandt in Arch. Pharm. (Berlin) 260: 67 (1922).[4]
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]
Yohimbe is one of a number of Corynantheevergreen 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]
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]
The main phytochemical in the extract is the indoloquinolizidine alkaloidyohimbine. It also contains other alkaloids, such as corynanthine and raubasine, with undefined properties, adding further to concerns about its safety.[2][3]
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]
^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.
^ abcR.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. ISBN9789290814955
^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. ISBN978-9401724241.
