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Microscopic and UPLC–UV–MS analyses of authentic and commercial yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe) bark samples

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Abstract

Yohimbine is the major alkaloid found in the stem bark of yohimbe, Pausinystalia johimbe (Rubiaceae), an evergreen tree native to Africa. The objectives of the current study were to provide a detailed anatomy of yohimbe bark, as well as to determine the quantity of yohimbine in the raw yohimbe products sold online. Twelve commercial raw materials of yohimbe were analyzed by microscopic and ultra performance liquid chromatography–UV–MS methods. The study revealed that three samples were probably adulterated and four other samples contained various levels of impurities. Yohimbine was not detected in one sample, whereas its presence in other samples was found to be in the range 0.1–0.91%. The present work also provides a detailed anatomy of the stem bark of yohimbe, with light and scanning electron microscopy images, for proper identification and authentication.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported in part by Science Based Authentication of Dietary Supplements and Botanical Dietary Supplement Research, funded by the Food and Drug Administration (grant no. 1U01FD004246-01); the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Specific Cooperative Agreement (no. 58-6408-2-0009); the Global Research Network for Medicinal Plants (GRNMP), King Saud University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Vijayasankar Raman, Bharathi Avula, Ahmed M. Galal, Yan-Hong Wang & Ikhlas A. Khan

  2. Department of Pharmacognosy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA

    Ikhlas A. Khan

  3. Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ikhlas A. Khan

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  1. Vijayasankar Raman
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  2. Bharathi Avula
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  3. Ahmed M. Galal
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  4. Yan-Hong Wang
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  5. Ikhlas A. Khan
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Correspondence to Vijayasankar Raman.

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Raman, V., Avula, B., Galal, A.M. et al. Microscopic and UPLC–UV–MS analyses of authentic and commercial yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe) bark samples. J Nat Med 67, 42–50 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-012-0642-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-012-0642-2

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