Testosterone and Eurycoma longifolia
Libido is clearly linked to levels of sex hormones, particularly testosterone. When a reduced sex drive occurs in individuals with relatively low levels of testosterone (e.g., post-menopausal women or men over age 60), testosterone supplements will often increase libido. Approaches using a number of precursors intended to raise testosterone levels have been effective in older males, but have not fared well when tested on other groups.
Eurycoma longifolia (a.k.a. tongkat ali or pasak bumi) is a flowering plant in the family Simaroubaceae, native to Indonesia and Malaysia. It has become popular for its alleged testosterone-enhancing properties. It has therefore been included in some herbal supplements for bodybuilders. Historically, South East Asia has utilized the herb for its suggested antimalarial, antibacterial activity, antipyretic, antiulcer, antitumor, cytotoxic and aphrodisiac properties. In an experiment conducted on male rats, it was found that eurycoma longifolia increases the sperm count and plasma testosterone of the rats.
Some scientific studies suggest that it enhances sexual characteristics and performance in animals. However, most of these studies were conducted by the same researchers, so more research is needed.
In other studies, fractions of Eurycoma longifolia extract have been shown to induce apoptosis in breast-cancer cells and to be cytotoxic to lung-cancer cells.
A 2003 study by researchers in the Department of Exercise Physiology at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, the abstract of which was presented in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in a section listing research to be presented at an upcoming conference, reported results that Eurycoma longifolia caused increased muscle strength and size when compared to a placebo.
Other laboratory animal tests have produced positive indications, with one extract having been observed to increase sexual activity in mature rats, including arousal, sniffing and mounting behavior. These tests were performed on a specifically isolated bioactive fraction extract, which has since been co-patented by the Government of Malaysia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). U.S. patent #7,132,117 was granted December 12, 2003.
Tongkat ali is sold in various extract ratios, with 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, and 1:200 being common. Traditionally Tongkat Ali is extracted with water and not ethanol.
It is a common misconception that the numbers relate to strength in an exact manner. 1:200 is NOT 4 times stronger than 1:50.
1:50 is the natural extract ratio after the cellulose has been removed. 1:200 is just 1/3 stronger and is made by removing some of the other constituents as well as the cellulose, but is also often 3 times the price. 400 mg of 1:50 extract is equal to 300 mg of 1:200 extract. 1:200 was designed so that people who take a large amount every day, e.g bodybuilders, would be able to take 1/3 less and get the same effect as it would be a little easier on the stomach, but when you consider the price difference unless you do use a great deal every day there is little point in the 1:200 extract. This info comes from the biggest manufacturer of eurycoma longifolia in Indonesia and possibly the world who manufacture both 1:50 and 1:200.
Anything below 1:50 contains mostly cellulose. 1:100 is normally used by plantation farmers as their plants are harvested at a young age before the plant has been given time to mature and 1:100 is needed as the extract contains only a very small amount active ingredient. 1:100 helps make it slightly more concentrated but it is actually still weaker than a 1:50 extract that has been taken from a mature wild plant. Wild extracts are dark brown in color like chocolate; plantation extracts are weaker and are a light brown color like sand.
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Testosterone and Eurycoma longifolia