INDIGENA
BIODIVERSITY
Sexual stimulant
G512 SUMMARY
TRADITIONAL USES
The plant has been well known in Guatemala since pre-Columbian times to treat malaria and snake bites. The root decoction is also used orally to treat stomach pain and lower blood pressure.
CHEMISTRY
The major alkaloid in the plant is rauwolscine, which is known to lower blood pressure without sedative effects. Rauwolscine is a stereoisomer of yohimbine and is also known as alpha-yohimbine:
A number of other alkaloids have been isolated from R. tetraphylla, including reserpine and yohimbine.
EXISTING COMMERCIAL USES OF RAUWOLSCINE
Rauwolscine is used as a dietary supplement and fat burner. A review suggests that it is "the forgotten cousin of yohimbine"
One product (AllMaxNutrition) contains 3 mg yohimbine and 0.5 mg rauwolscine, “likely because rauwolscine is harder to produce”
A MORE RECENT LOCAL USE WITH POTENTIAL
The parts of the plant that are used for most of the traditional remedies are the roots, leaves and bark. However, in Guatemala, it has been found that the red berries of the plant can be used as a sexual stimulant, for both males and females. The berries are chewed and swallowed. Our contact in Guatemala, a woman, has personally tried the berries and felt an arousal effect.
Yohimbine is an alkaloid which is used as an aphrodisiac, although research evidence for the effectiveness of yohimbine for treating erectile dysfunction is inconclusive. A scientific paper looks at yohimbine content in different parts of the G512 plant and interestingly finds none in the fruit.
It is therefore not clear what causes the stimulant effects in the berries of the G512 species. If yohimbine is not present in the berries, it may be another, as yet unidentified, constituent. In any event, the berries provide a potential commercial product. Further research may lead to a patentable result.