Yohimbe condensed tannins

Category: polyphenol

Aliases: Proanthocyanidins (yohimbe), Condensed tannins

Pharmacological Mechanism

The astringent condensed-tannin (proanthocyanidin) fraction of yohimbe bark (Pausinystalia johimbe) — oligo/polymeric flavan-3-ols built from catechin and epicatechin units. Pharmacognosy describes the bark as tannin-rich and notes the tannins precipitate the bark alkaloids. As a polymeric, ill-defined mixture it has no single molecular weight and no characterised receptor pharmacology.

Target Organ Systems

• digestive

Interactions

• (+)-Catechin (synergistic): Flavan-3-ol building block of the condensed-tannin fraction.
• Epicatechin (synergistic): Flavan-3-ol building block of the condensed-tannin fraction.

Notes

Class-mixture entry (cf. valepotriates). Yohimbe-bark tannins are documented in pharmacognosy monographs and the EFSA yohimbe assessment but not in a PubMed-indexed primary abstract; refs left empty rather than cite a non-primary source.