What Ginseng Can Do For You
Joseph P. Hou in The Healing Power of Ginseng, 2019
Spanish fly and yohimbine are some of the most well-known traditional aphrodisiacs.44 Spanish fly is also called cantharides, or blistering fly. It is obtained from iridescent beetles found in southern France and Spain and is an extremely harsh irritant. When swallowed in liquid form, it burns the mouth mucous membranes. According to Kent, the irritating effect of Spanish fly can cause dilation of the blood vessels of the genital organs, leading to erection of the penis or congestion of the labia. Rather than being pleasurable, such physical arousal is unpleasant and dangerous. It causes gastroenteritis and nephritis. In fact, a large dose of Spanish fly can be fatal. Yohimbine is a powder made from the inner bark of African yohimbe tree. It acts similarly on the blood vessels, but its aphrodisiac effect has been questionable.44
Orthostatic Hypotension Induced by Drugs and Toxins
David Robertson, Italo Biaggioni in Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System, 2019
The use of yohimbine to treat TCA-induced orthostatic hypotension has recently produced considerable interest. Yohimbine is an a2-adrenergic blocker that acts in the brain to enhance sympathetic outflow. Yohimbine treatment reduces the extent of orthostatic hypotension in patients receiving antidepressant drugs, in some cases with substantial symptomatic improvement (Lecrubier, Puech and Des Lauriers, 1981; Charney, Price and Heninger, 1986). The doses of yohimbine have ranged from 10-30 mg/day, given in three-four divided doses. Yohimbine may cause supine hypertension, particularly in patients with underlying hypertensive disorders, so the blood pressure must be monitored. At high doses, yohimbine may produce anxiety and/or aggravate underlying psychiatric disorders.
Effects of Dopamine on The Digestive System
M.D. Francesco Amenta in Peripheral Dopamine Pathophysiology, 2019
In isolated segments of the rabbit jejunum, DA induced relaxation, but was about 150 times less potent than noradrenaline.79 The effect of both sympathomimetic amines was partially antagonized by phentolamine and the β-adrenoceptor antagonist MJ-1999. The combined administration of large concentrations of phentolamine and MJ-1999 antagonized the response to dopamine by only 60%, but the same applied to noradrenaline. As both reserpine pretreatment and cocaine inhibited the relaxations to DA, it was concluded that the relaxatory effect of DA in the rabbit jejunum is in part indirect, through release of endogenous catecholamines, and is mediated via α- and β-adrenoceptors. In the rabbit ileum, the presence of prejunctional DA receptors on the noradrenergic nerve endings was suggested.80 In this preparation, electrical stimulation of the mesentery (sympathetic nerves) induced a relaxation. In the presence of cocaine, DA inhibited this relaxatory effect as did apomorphine, noradrenaline, bromocriptine, and piribedil; noradrenaline was less potent than apomorphine and DA. Yohimbine antagonized the effect of noradrenaline and that of dopamine (but in only half of the strips). Sulpiride antagonized the effect of dopamine and apomorphine, but not that of noradrenaline, bromocriptine, and piribedil. It was concluded that noradrenaline interacts with prejunctional α-adrenoceptors, and with prejunctional DA receptors. It was not clear why sulpiride did not block the effect of piribedil and bromocriptine.80
A literature perspective on the pharmacological applications of yohimbine
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2022
Nasimudeen R. Jabir, Chelapram K. Firoz, Torki A. Zughaibi, Mohammed Abdullah Alsaadi, Adel M. Abuzenadah, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Asmari, Ahdab Alsaieedi, Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed, Arun Kumar Ramu, Shams Tabrez
Yohimbine is a prototypical α2-receptor antagonist used widely as a therapeutic agent against erectile dysfunction for many years. It interacts with other behaviourally relevant monoaminergic receptors, viz. α1, 5HT-1A, 5HT-1B, 1-D, D3, and D2. However, the exact mechanism of yohimbine action is unclear. Interestingly, yohimbine compounds meet fundamental drug-like criteria with DPQ and quantitative estimates of drug-likeness. Yohimbine’s inhibitory activity on the α2-adrenergic receptor is beneficial in various disease conditions such as erectile dysfunction, myocardial dysfunction, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. However, few studies reported toxicological concerns after yohimbine treatment for erectile dysfunctions, albeit at comparatively higher doses. The potential clinical applicability of yohimbine can be assessed by investigating the relative variables and genetic factors using preclinical models followed by clinical studies. Well-designed randomized clinical trials are recommended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of yohimbine as a human pharmaceutical agent. The extraction or neo-synthesis of yohimbine or its analogs with better bioavailability and limited toxicity is also a possible prospect. Some studies also highlighted a synergetic therapeutic effect of yohimbine with other relevant compounds. Therefore, the possibility of using yohimbine as an adjunct therapy for associated clinical conditions should be tested. Perhaps, nanotechnology can enhance the effectiveness and bioavailability of yohimbine in diseased cells by preventing the disruption of normal physiological activities of non-diseased cells and organs. Despite some observed adverse effects, yohimbine use should be reconsidered for its associated benefits and clinical value.
Pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction in diabetic males
Published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2018
Yohimbine is an alpha 2-blocker that is reported to have a marginal effect on erectile function. Limited studies had shown that yohimbine to be a promising therapy for ED in type 2 DM [50]. Studies on nonorganic ED patients have shown some response over placebo. Side effects include anxiety, tremors, palpitation, and hypertension.
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