Phenolic compound from red raspberries used as a fragrance and/or food flavoring. Raspberry ketone is also added to certain fat loss supplements due to evidence that suggests it has anti-obesity effects.  An unpublished pilot study on a proprietary form called Razberi-K™, demonstrated it enhanced post-exercise fat oxidation, although the results were apparently not large enough to be statistically significant.

Raspberry ketone may also be listed on supplement labels by its chemical name: 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one.

See Maca.

Also known as “Peruvian Ginseng.” Maca is the tuberous root of a South American plant, Lepidium meyenii.  Maca is used both as a vegetable and medicinal food to improve libido and fertility.  Maca is highly nutritious, and has been shown to improve memory/learning and depression in animal experiments. It also has positive effects on menopausal symptoms via non-hormonal mechanisms. One variety, black maca, also increased sperm count and motility in rats.

Maca is often added to “male enhancement” products, although the doses are generally too low for any significant effects.

See “Maca Root/Herb and its Benefits” for more information.

A Nigerian shrub used in traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac and treatment for erectile dysfunction.  An extract of the stems was found to increase serum testosterone and sexual activity in rats, although it caused adverse testicular effects at high doses. Fadogia agrestis is being added to various “male” enhancement products and T-boosters, although there is no data on its efficacy in humans.

A metabolite of yohimbine also used in fat loss supplements, as it has a longer half-life (6 – 8 hours vs. 1 – 2 hours) than yohimbine itself.

See Rauwolscine HCl.

Also known as alpha-yohimbine.  An isomer of yohimbine alleged to have fewer adverse effects.

See Yohimbe.

The bark of Pausinystalia yohimbe, a tree indigenous to Western Africa.  The active ingredient in yohimbe is the alkaloid yohimbine.  Yohimbe bark extracts are often added to fat loss supplements and/or “male” enhancement supplements, although the amount of yohimbine is variable, and often low.

An alkaloid that’s the active principle in yohimbe (bark of the African tree, Pausinystalia yohimbe).  Yohimbine hydrochloride is sold as a prescription drug for erectile dysfunction.  Yohimbine is also used to treat xerostomia (dry mouth).

Yohimbine (either in standardized form or as yohimbe bark extract) is frequently used in “male enhancement” products, as well as fat loss supplements.  Yohimbine stimulates lipolysis by increasing blood flow in adipose tissue and blocking the activation of a ₂-adrenoceptors on fat cells…although it works better in theory than in fact.

Yohimbine is associated with a number of adverse effects, and should be avoided by individuals with hypotension (low blood pressure), diabetes, and heart, liver or kidney disease.

See David Tolson’s article “Yohimbine Science” for more information.