Yohimbine

Yohimbine
Clinical data
Pronunciation/jˈhɪmbn/
Other namesQuebrachine
Routes of
administration
By mouth
Drug classα2-Adrenergic receptor antagonist
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • CA: ℞-only
  • US: Unscheduled
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability7-86% (mean 33%)
Elimination half-life0.25–2.5 hours
ExcretionUrine (as metabolites)
Identifiers
IUPAC name
  • 17α-hydroxyyohimban-16α-carboxylic acid methyl ester
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.005.157
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC21H26N2O3
Molar mass354.450 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
SMILES
  • [H][C@@]15CC[C@H](O)[C@H](C(=O)OC)[C@@]1([H])C[C@@]4([H])c3[nH]c2ccccc2c3CCN4C5
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C21H26N2O3/c1-26-21(25)19-15-10-17-20-14(13-4-2-3-5-16(13)22-20)8-9-23(17)11-12(15)6-7-18(19)24/h2-5,12,15,17-19,22,24H,6-11H2,1H3/t12-,15-,17-,18-,19+/m0/s1 Y
  • Key:BLGXFZZNTVWLAY-SCYLSFHTSA-N Y
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Yohimbine, also known as quebrachine, is an indole alkaloid derived from the bark of the African tree Pausinystalia johimbe (yohimbe) and from the bark of the unrelated South American tree Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco. It is a veterinary drug used to reverse sedation in dogs and deer.

Substances that have purported to be extracts from the yohimbe tree have been marketed as dietary supplements for various purposes, but they contain highly variable amounts of yohimbine, if any; no published scientific evidence supports their efficacy for treating sexual dysfunction or any disease.