Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, herbal aphrodisiacs are frequently used to improve sexual performance. Because of its bioactive alkaloid yohimbine, an α-adrenergic receptor antagonist that is known to alter sympathetic activity and vascular tone, Pausinystalia yohimbe (Burantashi) is one of the most well-liked. Despite its widespread usage, little is known about its systemic biochemical safety, especially with regard to indicators for cardiac and inflammatory harm.

Aim and Objectives: Using sildenafil citrate as a pharmacological comparator, this study assessed the sub-chronic effects of P. yohimbe methanol extract on cardiac troponin-I and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in male Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: Five groups (n = 5) of twenty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing 150–180 g were given sildenafil (5 mg/kg), P. yohimbe extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, and control (distilled water 5 mL/kg). For 28 days, the treatments were given orally. ELISA kits were used to measure serum CRP and troponin-I in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. The Student's t-test (SPSS v24; p < 0.05) was used to examine the data, which were presented as mean ± SE.

Results: Troponin-I stayed constant (0.34 ± 0.07 vs. 0.24 ± 0.02 ng/mL; p > 0.05), while sildenafil markedly increased CRP (2.74 ± 0.11 mg/L) in comparison to control (2.30 ± 0.07 mg/L; p = 0.011). Troponin-I and CRP did not significantly change when P. yohimbe was administered at 50 and 100 mg/kg. At 200 mg/kg, however, there was no change in troponin-I (0.22 ± 0.37 ng/mL; p = 0.667), while CRP increased considerably (2.54 ± 0.08 mg/L vs 2.30 ± 0.07 mg/L; p = 0.049).

Conclusion: While high-dose exposure (200 mg/kg) causes a modest systemic inflammatory response without causing cardiac damage, low-to-moderate dosages (≤100 mg/kg) of methanolic P. yohimbe are biochemically safe. These results outline a first biochemical safety margin for the use of P. yohimbe.