Eurycoma longifolia

Taxobox
name = "Eurycoma longifolia"


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Sapindales
familia = Simaroubaceae
genus = "Eurycoma"
species = "E. longifolia"
binomial = "Eurycoma longifolia"
binomial_authority = Jack [cite web
url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?417514
title=Eurycoma longifolia information from NPGS/GRIN
publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
accessdate=2008-03-14
last=
first=]

"Eurycoma longifolia Jack" (a.k.a. Tongkat Ali or Pasak Bumi) is a flowering plant in the family Simaroubaceae, native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The author abbreviation Jack in the scientific name of the plant refers to the Scottish botanist William Jack. The name longjack that has been inserted in previous versions of this Wikipedia article refers to a specific Malaysian brand (and is thus a form of spam). The designation is NOT a synonym for the plant.

Eurycoma longifolia Jack is a small evergreen tree growing to 15 m (49 ft) tall, with spirally arranged, pinnate leaves 20-40 cm (8-16 inches) long with 13-41 leaflets. The flowers are dioecious, with male and female flowers on different trees; they are produced in large panicles, each flower with 5-6 very small petals. The fruit is green ripening dark red, 1-2 cm long and 0.5-1 cm broad.

Uses

"Eurycoma longifolia" 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 utilised the herb for its suggested antimalarial, antipyretic, antiulcer, cytotoxic and aphrodisiac properties.

Some scientific studies suggest that it enhances sexual characteristics and performance in animals.cite journal |author=Ang HH, Ngai TH, Tan TH |title=Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack on sexual qualities in middle aged male rats |journal=Phytomedicine |volume=10 |issue=6-7 |pages=590–3 |year=2003 |pmid=13678248 |doi=10.1078/094471103322331881] [cite journal|author=Ang HH, Cheang HS, Yusof AP. |title=Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali) on the initiation of sexual performance of inexperienced castrated male rats |journal=Exp Anim |year=2000 |issue=1 |volume=49 |pages=35–8 |pmid =10803359 |doi=10.1538/expanim.49.35 ] [cite journal|author=Ang HH, Lee KL, Kiyoshi M |title=Sexual arousal in sexually sluggish old male rats after oral administration of Eurycoma longifolia Jack |journal=J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol |year=2004 |issue=3-4 |volume=15 |pages=303–9 |pmid =15803965 ] However, most of these studies were conducted by the same researchers, so more research is needed.

In other studies, fractions of "Eurycoma longifolia" Jack extract have been shown to induce apoptosis in breast-cancer cells [cite journal|author=Tee TT, & Azimahtol HL. |title=Induction of apoptosis by Eurycoma longifolia jack extracts |journal= Anticancer Res |year=2005 |issue=3B |volume=25 |pages=2205–13 |pmid =16158965 ] and to be cytotoxic to lung-cancer cells. [cite journal|author=Kuo PC, Shi LS, Damu AG, Su CR, Huang CH, Ke CH, Wu JB, Lin AJ, Bastow KF, Lee KH, Wu TS. |title=Cytotoxic and antimalarial beta-carboline alkaloids from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia |journal=J Nat Prod |year=2003 |issue=10 |volume=66 |pages=1324–7 |pmid =14575431 |doi=10.1021/np030277n ]

The "British Journal of Sports Medicine" published the results of a scientific study in 2003, which showed that "Eurycoma longifolia" caused increased muscle strength and size when compared to a placebo. [cite journal |author=Hamzah S, Yusof A |title=The Ergogenic Effects of Eurycoma Longifolia Jack: A Pilot Study |journal=Br. J. Sports Med. |year=2003 |month=Oct |volume=37 |pages=464–70 |url=http://bjsm.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/37/5/464 |doi=10.1136/bjsm.37.5.464 - Abstract of study listed as item 007] This may demonstrate the anabolic properties of Tongkat Ali but again more research is needed. Some athletes and body builders now use Tongkat Ali extract in the hope that it will act as a testosterone-booster, to improve muscle size, strength, and performance without drugs.

Tongkat ali is sold in various extract ratios, with 1:50, 1:100, and 1:200 being most common. It should be noted that a higher extract ratio does not necessarily mean that an extract is more potent. At a higher extraction ratio, some of the active ingredients may even be lost.

On the other hand, some products on the market do not state any specific extract ratio, and then it may be anything between 1:2 and 1:10. Furthermore, buyers should be aware that tongkat ali is one of the most expensive herbals sold internationally. Thus, capsules or tablets that combine tongkat ali with other ingredients and do not indicate definite quantities of each ingredient may contain just minuscule amounts of tongkat ali.

References