|Click for a list of known active ingredients in Eurycina Longifolia >> eurycomanone
eurylactone A and B
eurycolactone A to C
eurycolactone D to F
laurycolactone A and B
isomeric 2,2�-dimethoxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-4�-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)diphenyl ethers
benzoic acid benzyl ether
benzoic acid ethyl ether
benzoic acid methyl ether
benzoic acid propyl ether
linoleic acid methyl ester
Detailed description of the plant:
Eurycoma longifolia (Simaroubaceae) is a small tree to 10 to 15m high. It is what is referred to as a dioecious plant which means the flowers on a plant are sexed male or female. The leaves are compound in structure, long, and crowded at the tips of the branches - much like a large fern. The branches are typically about a meter long, and the leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, sessile (no defined stem) or nearly so, and opposite and generally appear towards the end of the branches in numbers of 30 to 40. Flowers are borne in axillary panicles, mostly large and lax, and puberulous with short hairs. Flowers are unisexual (or rather hermaphroditic) - the male always with a sterile pistil, female always with sterile stamens. The fruits are hard, ellipsoid or ovoid (like a coffee bean), 10-20 x 5-12 mm, green to blackish-red when ripe.
E. longifolia grows best in acid and sandy soils, typically at low altitude up to 700m above sea level. Plants usually grow in a forest setting.
The seedlings require shade, during which time they develop an extensive root system including the prized tap root used in the production of Tongkat Ali Extract. Following the juvenile growth stages, the plants need stronger light to develop its vegetative and reproductive structures. E. longifolia flowers and fruits throughout the year, with peak flowering around June and typically fruiting in September.
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.
What parts of the plant are used....
The bark of the roots are used in the Malay Peninsula to cure fever, ulcers in the mouth, and intestinal worms. It is also used as a tonic after childbirth.
In some regions of Sumatra and Kalimantan it is also used as an antipyretic, as well as a treatment for dysentery.
Thick boiled tea made from the bark is consumed to relieve pain in the bones, and a similar tea from the leaves is used for washing itches.
The flowers and fruits have been employed as a medicine for treating dysentery. Malaysian peoples also use the paste of the plant for headache, stomachache, discomfort cause by syphilis, and other general pains.
Indigenous peoples have used the root and/or stem to cure malaria.
But of course, E. longifolia is known mostly for its use as an aphrodisiac and testosterone booster.
It is interesting to note that in tribal regions where the plant is revered for its healing powers there is often some ceremony in relation to the harvesting of the plant or its parts. The harvesting must be conducted quietly and and with a degree of respect, because to do otherwise would result in the loss of the healing powers of the plant. In what is surely a difficult bit of ceremony, the greatest benefit will result if ones back is turned while pulling out the plant - no small task given that the tap root grown straight into the ground, typically for several feet! (Genetic study of trees - http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=166889)
Study of indigenous medicine: http://www.indianjmedsci.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5359;year=2005;volume=59;issue=4;spage=156;epage=161;aulast=Lin
There have been quite a few studies on the effect that Eurycoma has on the sexual behavior of male rats which support its folk use as an aphrodisiac. The effects of Eurycoma were studied on sexually experienced male rats, castrated rats, sexually inexperienced rats, and middle-aged rats. All studies indicated an increase in the rats' sexual activity.2-10
For instance, in a recent study at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, the effects of Eurycoma were studied on the orientation activities of middle-aged rats towards females. The male rats were given Eurycoma extract twice daily for ten days. When compared to the controls, the treated male rats showed more interest in the female rats in terms of sniffing, licking and mounting. The male rats were also more interested in their environment which they expressed by climbing, exploring and self-grooming. The study concluded that Eurycoma has a definite effect on the orientation activities of middle-aged male rats.11
In a more dramatic study of the aphrodisiac property of Eurycoma on sexually inexperienced male rats, an electric grid was used in the rats' cage to deter them from crossing over to the cage with the female rats. The rats treated with Eurycoma were willing to overcome the intensity of the grid current to reach the receptive female rats. The untreated rats, however, did not pursue the female rats.
Results showed that Eurycoma continued to enhance and also maintain a high level of the total number of successful crossovers, mountings, intromissions and ejaculations during the 9-12 week observation period. In conclusion, these results further enhanced and strengthened the aphrodisiac property of Eurycoma longifolia. 12
Additionally, other studies have determined that Eurycoma's chemical constituents called quassinoids were found to exhibit anti-tumor and anti-parasitic activities.13
As Eurycoma is becoming a popular supplement around the world, more and more scientists are interested in determining exactly how and why it works. The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has an ongoing five-year Malaysia MIT Biotechnology Partnership Program (MMBPP) to determine the herb's health benefits. In Thailand, the Faculty of Science of the Mahidol University is investigating the active compounds in Eurycoma. And an Indonesian pharmaceutical company is also testing the herb.14
Men and women can use Eurycoma (tongkat ali).
- most of the studies to date have been animal based studies
After all that information, as a matter of convenience, we're going to list many of the articles worthy of consideration below. It's important to note a couple things:
- several of the pieces referenced below may not be available in their entirety without advanced access or
paying for the information
Farouk AE, Benafri A.
Antibacterial activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack. A Malaysian medicinal plant.
Saudi Med J. 2007 Sep;28(9):1422-142
Li Y, Liang F, Jiang W, Yu F, Cao R, Ma Q, Dai X, Jiang J, Wang Y, Si S.
DH334, a beta-carboline Anti-Cancer Drug, Inhibits the CDK Activity of Budding Yeast.
Cancer Biol Ther. 2007 May 4;6(8) [Epub ahead of print]
Mohd Ridzuan MA, Sow A, Noor Rain A, Mohd Ilham A, Zakiah I.
Eurycoma longifolia extract-artemisinin combination: parasitemia suppression of Plasmodium yoelii-infected mice.
Trop Biomed. 2007 Jun;24(1):111-8.
Mohd Ridzuan MA, Noor Rain A, Zhari I, Zakiah I.
Effect of Eurycoma longifolia extract on the Glutathione level in Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes in vitro.
Trop Biomed. 2005 Dec;22(2):155-63.
Ang HH, Lee KL.
Contamination of mercury in tongkat Ali hitam herbal preparations.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Aug;44(8):1245-50. Epub 2006 Mar 29.
Hout S, Chea A, Bun SS, Elias R, Gasquet M, Timon-David P, Balansard G, Azas N.
Screening of selected indigenous plants of Cambodia for antiplasmodial activity.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Aug 11;107(1):12-8. Epub 2006 Mar 20.
Nurhanan MY, Azimahtol Hawariah LP, Mohd Ilham A, Mohd Shukri MA.
Cytotoxic effects of the root extracts of Eurycoma longifolia Jack.
Phytother Res. 2005 Nov;19(11):994-6.
Chan KL, Choo CY, Abdullah NR.
Semisynthetic 15-O-acyl- and 1,15-di-O-acyleurycomanones from Eurycoma longifolia as potential antimalarials.
Planta Med. 2005 Oct;71(10):967-9.
Low BS, Ng BH, Choy WP, Yuen KH, Chan KL.
Bioavailability and pharmacokinetic studies of eurycomanone from Eurycoma longifolia.
Planta Med. 2005 Sep;71(9):803-7.
Tee TT, Azimahtol HL.
Induction of apoptosis by Eurycoma longifolia jack extracts.
Anticancer Res. 2005 May-Jun;25(3B):2205-13.
Malaysian researchers bet big on home-grown Viagra.
Nat Med. 2005 Sep;11(9):912.
Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M.
Sexual arousal in sexually sluggish old male rats after oral administration of Eurycoma longifolia Jack.
J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2004;15(3-4):303-9.
Husen R, Pihie AH, Nallappan M.
Screening for antihyperglycaemic activity in several local herbs of Malaysia.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec;95(2-3):205-8.
Ang HH, Lee EL, Cheang HS.
Determination of mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometer in Tongkat Ali preparations obtained in Malaysia.
Int J Toxicol. 2004 Jan-Feb;23(1):65-71.
Chan KL, Choo CY, Abdullah NR, Ismail Z.
Antiplasmodial studies of Eurycoma longifolia Jack using the lactate dehydrogenase assay of Plasmodium falciparum.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jun;92(2-3):223-7.
Kuo PC, Damu AG, Lee KH, Wu TS.
Cytotoxic and antimalarial constituents from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia.
Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 Feb 1;12(3):537-44.
Bedir E, Abou-Gazar H, Ngwendson JN, Khan IA.
Eurycomaoside: a new quassinoid-type glycoside from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia.
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2003 Nov;51(11):1301-3.
Kuo PC, Shi LS, Damu AG, Su CR, Huang CH, Ke CH, Wu JB, Lin AJ, Bastow KF, Lee KH, Wu TS.
Cytotoxic and antimalarial beta-carboline alkaloids from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia.
J Nat Prod. 2003 Oct;66(10):1324-7.
Osman A, Jordan B, Lessard PA, Muhammad N, Haron MR, Riffin NM, Sinskey AJ, Rha C, Housman DE.
Genetic diversity of Eurycoma longifolia inferred from single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Plant Physiol. 2003 Mar;131(3):1294-301.
Ang HH, Ngai TH, Tan TH.
Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on sexual qualities in middle aged male rats.
Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M.
Eurycoma longifolia Jack enhances sexual motivation in middle-aged male mice.
J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2003;14(3):301-8.
Ang HH, Lee KL.
Effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on orientation activities in middle-aged male rats.
Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Dec;16(6):479-83.
Ang HH, Lee KL.
Effect of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on libido in middle-aged male rats.
J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2002;13(3):249-54.
Jiwajinda S, Santisopasri V, Murakami A, Sugiyama H, Gasquet M, Riad E, Balansard G, Ohigashi H.
In vitro anti-tumor promoting and anti-parasitic activities of the quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia, a medicinal plant in Southeast Asia.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Sep;82(1):55-8. Erratum in: J Ethnopharmacol.2003 Mar;85(1):173.
Chan KL, Choo CY.
The toxicity of some quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia.
Planta Med. 2002 Jul;68(7):662-4.
Ueda JY, Tezuka Y, Banskota AH, Le Tran Q, Tran QK, Harimaya Y, Saiki I, Kadota S.
Antiproliferative activity of Vietnamese medicinal plants.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Jun;25(6):753-60.
Choo CY, Chan KL.
High performance liquid chromatography analysis of canthinone alkaloids from Eurycoma longifolia.
Planta Med. 2002 Apr;68(4):382-4.
Tan S, Yuen KH, Chan KL.
HPLC analysis of plasma 9-methoxycanthin-6-one from Eurycoma longifolia and its application in a bioavailability/pharmacokinetic study.
Planta Med. 2002 Apr;68(4):355-8.
Ang HH, Hitotsuyanagi Y, Fukaya H, Takeya K.
Quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia.
Phytochemistry. 2002 Apr;59(8):833-7.
Ang HH, Cheang HS.
Effects of Eurycoma longifolia jack on laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats.
Arch Pharm Res. 2001 Oct;24(5):437-40.
Jiwajinda S, Santisopasri V, Murakami A, Hirai N, Ohigashi H.
Quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia as plant growth inhibitors.
Phytochemistry. 2001 Nov;58(6):959-62.
Ang HH, Ngai TH.
Aphrodisiac evaluation in non-copulator male rats after chronic administration of Eurycoma longifolia Jack.
Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2001 Aug;15(4):265-8.
Ang HH, Ikeda S, Gan EK.
Evaluation of the potency activity of aphrodisiac in Eurycoma longifolia Jack.
Phytother Res. 2001 Aug;15(5):435-6.
Phytochemicals and the breakthrough of traditional herbs in the management of sexual dysfunctions.
Int J Androl. 2000;23 Suppl 2:82-4.
Ang HH, Cheang HS, Yusof AP.
Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali) on the initiation of sexual performance of inexperienced castrated male rats.
Exp Anim. 2000 Jan;49(1):35-8.
Ang HH, Cheang HS.
Studies on the anxiolytic activity of Eurycoma longifolia Jack roots in mice.
Jpn J Pharmacol. 1999 Apr;79(4):497-500.
Ang HH, Sim MK.
Eurycoma longifolia increases sexual motivation in sexually naive male rats.
Arch Pharm Res. 1998 Dec;21(6):779-81.
Chan KL, Choo CY, Morita H, Itokawa H.
High performance liquid chromatography in phytochemical analysis of Eurycoma longifolia.
Planta Med. 1998 Dec;64(8):741-5.
Ang HH, Sim MK.
Eurycoma longifolia JACK and orientation activities in sexually experienced male rats.
Biol Pharm Bull. 1998 Feb;21(2):153-5.
Ang HH, Sim MK.
Eurycoma longifolia Jack enhances libido in sexually experienced male rats.
Exp Anim. 1997 Oct;46(4):287-90.
Ang HH, Chan KL, Mak JW.
Effect of 7-day daily replacement of culture medium containing Eurycoma longifolia Jack constituents on the Malaysian Plasmodium falciparum isolates.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1995 Dec 15;49(3):171-5.
Ang HH, Chan KL, Mak JW.
In vitro antimalarial activity of quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia against Malaysian chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum isolates.
Planta Med. 1995 Apr;61(2):177-8.
Chaing HS, Merino-chavez G, Yang LL, Wang FN, Hafez ES.
Medicinal plants: conception / contraception.
Adv Contracept Deliv Syst. 1994;10(3-4):355-63.
Kardono LB, Angerhofer CK, Tsauri S, Padmawinata K, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD.
Cytotoxic and antimalarial constituents of the roots of Eurycoma longifolia.
J Nat Prod. 1991 Sep-Oct;54(5):1360-7.
Chan KL, O'neill MJ, Phillipson JD, Warhurst DC.
Plants as Sources of Antimalarial Drugs. Part 31 Eurycoma longifolia.
Planta Med. 1986 Apr;52(2):105-7.
Chan KL, O'Neill MJ, Phillipson JD, Warhurst DC.
Plants as sources of antimalarial drugs. Part 3. Eurycoma longifolia.
Planta Med. 1986 Apr;(2):105-7.
Constituents of Eurycoma longifolia Jack.
J Org Chem. 1970 Apr;35(4):1104-9