The Amazing Aphrodisiac Herb

Excerpted from www.tongkatali.org by Serge Kreutz, copyright 2003 and 2004.

Tongkat Ali (or Pasak Bumi in Indonesia) is derived from the plant called Eurycoma Longifolia. It has been widely used in Asia for centuries as a cure for erectile dysfunction and low libido. The plant is also known to have positive effects on the immune system and to naturally enhance testosterone levels in men.

Tongkat Ali is one of the most widely used herbal medications in Southeast Asia, precisely because of its power to enhance male libido, sexual function and sexual performance.

Apart from yohimbe (which is now recognized to have potentially serious side effects), Tongkat Ali is the only herbal medication that has been scientifically proven to work as an aphrodisiac. You can easily check this for yourself at Medline, the huge database of scientific medical articles. To gain free access to Medline, go to www.infotrieve.com, click the Medline link in the left sidebar and type “eurycoma” and “longifolia” into the data fields.

In its wide range of uses, Tongkat Ali is similar to ginseng. However, Tongkat Ali’s power to enhance testosterone levels is far greater than that of ginseng. Genuine Tongkat Ali extract, in a sufficient dosage, works beautifully to boost levels of free testosterone, and thereby enhances libido and sexual function much more naturally than yohimbe.

Traditionally, Tongkat Ali has been a plant found throughout Southeast Asia. In Vietnam it is regarded a cure-all. In sex-crazy Thailand, men have used it as a virility tonic for centuries. And in Malaysia, it has been harvested heavily to be sold in the US (apart from being used at home).

The Ecology of Eurycoma Longifolia

Eurycoma Longifolia (popularly known as Tongkat Ali in Malaysia and Pasak Bumi in Indonesia) was relatively unknown in the Western world until just a few years ago. It has since overtaken Yohimbe as the undisputed leader in herbal enhancers for its potent benefits – without dangerous side effects. Today, Eurycoma Longifolia is also widely used by bodybuilders throughout the world as a natural testosterone enhancer.

Description

Eurycoma Longifolia (Simaroubaceae) is a small tree to 15 m. high. Plants dioecious (flowers on a plant are either male or female). Leaves compound, long, and crowded at the tips of the branches. When the leaves fall they leave large scars on the stems. Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, sessile or nearly so, and opposite. Flowers are borne in axillaries panicles, mostly large and lax, and puberulous with short hairs. Flowers are unisexual; male flower has sterile pistil, female flower has sterile stamens. Fruits ellipsoid or ovoid, 10-20 x 5-12 mm, green to blackish-red when ripe.

Ecology

E. longifolia prefers acid and sandy soils at low altitude up to 700 m above sea level. Plants usually grow in beach forests, primary and secondary forests, mixed dipterocarp forests and also in heath forests. In Riau Province, Sumatra, 1991, the author found that plants were growing in areas with an average temperature of 25C and 86% humidity. The soils in this area were found to be poor in nutrients, but mycorrhizal fungi were found growing near the plants and may indicate an association. Seedlings require shade, during which time they develop an extensive root system. Following juvenile stages, plants need stronger light to develop vegetative and reproductive parts. E. longifolia flowers and fruits throughout the year, with peak flowering from June-July and peak fruiting in September.

Distribution

E. longifolia originates from South East Asia, including Indonesia, Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. In Indonesia, this species only occurs naturally in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Uses

Though E. longifolia is currently mostly known as an aphrodisiac, in South East Asia, all parts of E. longifolia plants have long been used medicinally. The plant is commonly used throughout the region as a tonic after childbirth. The bark of the roots is used in the Malay Peninsula to cure fever, ulcers in the mouth, and intestinal worms. The Malays also use the paste of the plant to relieve headache, stomachache, pain caused by syphilis, and many other general pains. In parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, the root is used as an anit-pyretic. In Lampung and Belitung it is used as a medicine for dysentery. The people of Sabah and Kalimantan make a decoction of the bark that is drunk to relieve pain in the bones or applied for washing itches. In Vietnam, people use the flowers and fruits as a medicine for treating dysentery. In Riau, where the author carried out research, people living in the surrounding forests boil the root or stem to cure malaria. One of the most unique uses for E. longifolia is that of the Sakai ethnic group in Sumatra who use the plant as an amulet to protect people from the smallpox virus.

Phytochemistry

The active constituents in E. longifolia, and many other species in the Family Simaroubaceae, include quassin, neo-quassin, glaukarubin, sedrin and eurycomanol that are mostly derivatives from compounds with 20 carbon atoms.

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An Overview Of Research

Apart from yohimbe (which is now recognized to have potentially serious side effects), Tongkat Ali is the only herbal medication that has been scientifically proven to work as an aphrodisiac. You can easily check this for yourself at Medline, the huge database of scientific medical articles. To gain free access to Medline, go to www.infotrieve.com, click the Medline link in the left sidebar and type “eurycoma” and “longifolia” into the data fields.

A Malaysian Clinical Trial

The following report on a clinical trial with Tongkat Ali appeared in the Singapore Straits Times. It’s the only one in plain English, so it’s kind of our favorite.

Early Results Show Men Being More Virile After Taking Tongkat Ali By Sharmilpal Kaur

MEN may stand a better chance of boosting their performance in the bedroom by turning to help from a plant rather than exotic remedies.

Preliminary tests show that Tongkat Ali, a herbal aphrodisiac made from the root of a plant known by the same name, can add to a man’s libido and sexual prowess.

Known as Pasak Bumi in Indonesia, Tongkat Ali in Malaysia, and also as eurycoma longifolia, its scientific, Latin name, the plant grows all over South-east Asia.

Dr. Ismail Tambi, who heads the Human Reproduction Specialist Centre at Malaysia’s National Population and Family Development Board, said that 30 healthy males between the ages of 31 and 52 were given two capsules of Tongkat Ali a day for three weeks.

They reported that their performances in bed had improved – erections were stronger and, in some cases, lasted longer. Overall, they felt more virile.

Their levels of testosterone, the male hormone that plays a significant role in spurring desire and performance, doubled within three weeks. At the same time, the level of another hormone that inhibited sex fell.

It is the root of Tongkat Ali that is made into a drug available in capsule, liquid and powder form.

But Dr. Ismail, who is here for the seventh Asian Congress of Sexology, told The Straits Times that this was just an initial trial.

Starting next year, about 200 healthy males will be involved in a much bigger trial to determine if Tongkat Ali really does the trick.

Malaysians spend about RM6 billion (S$2.8 billion) a year on potions and drugs to enhance their sexual performance and the Malaysian government is planning to invest in a trial that is estimated to cost RM500,000.

The government wants to determine if this is an industry that can be nurtured and developed.

While there are a few side-effects to using the herbal drug, such as headaches or flushing of the face, these fade away after a few days, said Dr. Ismail.

But he warned that the medication, which is readily available in capsule, liquid and powder form, should be bought from a reputable source.

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Abstracts of Scientific Studies and Research

Arch Pharm Res 2001 Oct;24(5):437-40

Effects of Eurycoma longifolia jack on laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats.

Ang HH and Cheang HS., School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, Minden, 11800, Penang, Malaysia. hhang@usm.my

It has been reported that Eurycoma longifolia Jack commonly known as Tongkat Ali has gained notoreity as a symbol of man’s ego and strength by the Malaysian men because it increases male virility and sexual prowess during sexual activities. As such, the effects of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of E. longifolia Jack were studied on the laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats after dosing them for 12 consecutive weeks. Results showed that 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of E. longifolia Jack significantly increased (p<0.05) the leavator ani muscle to 58.56+/-1.22, 58.23+/-0.31, 60.21 +/-0.86 and 62.35 +/-0.98 mg/100 g body weight, respectively, when compared with the control (untreated) in the uncastrated intact male rats and 49.23+/-0.82, 52.23+/-0.36, 50.21+/-0.66 and 52.35+/-0.58 mg/100 g body weight, respectively, when compared to control (untreated) in the testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats. Hence, the pro-androgenic effect as shown by this study further supported the traditional use of this plant as an aphrodisiac.

PMID: 11693547 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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Exp Anim 2000 Jan;49(1):35-8

Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali) on the initiation of sexual performance of inexperienced castrated male rats.

Ang HH, Cheang HS and Yusof AP., School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.

We studied the effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack, commonly known as Tongkat Ali in Malaysia, on the initiation of sexual performance and the weights of sexual accessories in inexperienced castrated male rats. The doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight, which were extracted from E. longifolia Jack, were orally administered to the rats twice daily for 10 days prior to the tests and continued throughout the test period. Testosterone was used as a positive control after injecting 15 mg/kg daily subcutaneously for 32 days. Results showed that E. longifolia Jack produced a dose-dependent increase in sexual performance of the treated animals, but the E. longifolia Jack groups showed lower sexual performance in mounting, intromission and ejaculation than the testosterone group. Further results also showed that E. longifolia Jack promoted the growth of both ventral prostate and seminal vesicles as compared with the control, but the growth of sexual accessories at 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of E. longifolia Jack was less than that of testosterone treated group. The present study therefore gives further evidence of the folkuse of E. longifolia as an aphrodisiac.

PMID: 10803359 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2001 Aug;15(4):265-8

Aphrodisiac evaluation in non-copulator male rats after chronic administration of Eurycoma longifolia Jack.

Ang HH and Ngai TH., School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Science Malaysia, Minden, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.

The aphrodisiac effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (0.5 g/kg) was evaluated in noncopulator male rats using an electrical cage. Fractions of E. longifolia Jack decreased the hesitation time of noncopulator male rats, throughout the investigation period. Furthermore, it possessed a transient increase in the percentage of the male rats responding to the right choice, more than 50% of the male rats scored “right choice” after 3 weeks post-treatment and the effect became more prominent after 8 weeks post-treatment (only 40-50% of the control male rats responded to the right choice) using the electrical copulation cage. Hence, this study lends further support to the use of the plant by indigenous populations as a traditional medicine for its aphrodisiac property.

PMID: 11564133 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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Int J Androl 2000;23 Suppl 2:82-4 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

Phytochemicals and the breakthrough of traditional herbs in the management of sexual dysfunctions.

Adimoelja A., School of Medicine ‘Hang Tuah’ University, Teaching and Naval Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia.

Traditional herbs have been a revolutionary breakthrough in the management of erectile dysfunction and have become known world-wide as an ‘instant’ treatment. The modern view of the management of erectile dysfunction subscribes to a single etiology, i.e. the mechanism of erection. A large number of pharmacological agents are orally consumed and vasoactive agents inserted intraurethrally or injected intrapenially to regain good erection. Modern phytochemicals have developed from traditional herbs. Phytochemicals focus their mechanism of healing action to the root cause, i.e. the inability to control the proper function of the whole body system. Hence phytochemicals manage erectile dysfunction in the frame of sexual dysfunction as a whole entity. Protodioscin is a phytochemical agent derived from Tribulus terrestris L plant, which has been clinically proven to improve sexual desire and enhance erection via the conversion of protodioscine to DHEA (De-Hydro-Epi-Androsterone). Preliminary observations suggest that Tribulus terrestris L grown on different soils does not consistently produce the active component Protodioscin. Further photochemical studies of many other herbal plants are needed to explain the inconsistent results found with other herbal plants, such as in diversities of Ginseng, Eurycoma longifolia, Pimpinella pruacen, Muara puama, Ginkgo biloba, Yohimbe etc.

PMID: 10849504 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

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J Ethnopharmacol 2002 Sep 1;82(1):55 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

In vitro anti-tumor promoting and anti-parasitic activities of the quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia, a medicinal plant in Southeast Asia.

Jiwajinda S, Santisopasri V, Murakami A, Kawanaka M, Kawanaka H, Gasquet M, Eilas R, Balansard G, Ohigashi H.

Central Laboratory and Greenhouse Complex, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, 73140, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Some quassinoids (1-6) isolated previously as plant growth inhibitors from the leaves of Eurycoma longifolia Jack. (Simaroubaceae) were subjected to in vitro tests on anti-tumor promoting, antischistosomal and plasmodicidal activities. The most active compound for inhibition of tumor promoter-induced Epstein-Barr virus activation (anti-tumor promotion) was 14,15beta-dihydroxyklaineanone (5, IC(50)=5 &mgr;M). Longilactone (1) gave significant antischistosomal effect at a concentration of 200 &mgr;g/ml. 11-Dehydroklaineanone (3) and 15beta-O-acetyl-14-hydroxyklaineanone (6) showed potent plasmodicidal activity (IC(50)=2 &mgr;g/ml). Thus it was suggested that E. longifolia possesses high medicinal values due to the occurrence of a variety of quassinoids.

PMID: 12169407 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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J Nat Prod 1991 Sep-Oct;54(5):1360-7Related Articles, Books, LinkOut
Cytotoxic and antimalarial constituents of the roots of Eurycoma longifolia.

Kardono LB, Angerhofer CK, Tsauri S, Padmawinata K, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD.

Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.

By bioactivity-directed fractionation, five cytotoxic constituents have been characterized from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia collected in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Four canthin-6-one alkaloids, namely, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one-N-oxide, 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one, and 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one-N-oxide, and one quassinoid, eurycomanone, were found to be cytotoxic principles. Each of these compounds was evaluated against a panel of cell lines comprising a number of human cancer cell types [breast, colon, fibrosarcoma, lung, melanoma, KB, and KB-V1 (a multi-drug resistant cell line derived from KB)] and murine lymphocytic leukemia (P-388). The canthin-6-ones 1-4 were found to be active with all cell lines tested except for the KB-V1 cell line. Eurycomanone was inactive against murine lymphocytic leukemia (P-388) but was significantly active against the human cell lines tested. Two additional isolates, the beta-carboline alkaloids beta-carboline-1-propionic acid and 7-methoxy-beta-carboline-1-propionic acid, were not significantly active with these cultured cells. However, compounds 5 and 7 were found to demonstrate significant antimalarial activity as judged by studies conducted with cultured Plasmodium falciparum strains. The structures of the novel compounds 2-4 and 7 were established by spectral and chemical methods.

PMID: 1800638 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]