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Tongkat Ali
•Last Updated: April 26, 2023
Tongkat ali, also known as Eurycoma longifolia, is known for its aphrodisiac and profertility effects. It’s also promoted as a “testosterone booster”, and while some evidence exists for this effect in men with low testosterone and the mechanisms are plausible, the data aren’t convincing.
Tongkat Ali is most often used for
Last Updated:April 26, 2023
Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia), also known as longjack or Malaysian ginseng, is a Southeast Asian herb that is traditionally used to enhance testosterone levels and potentially reduce blood pressure, fever, and fatigue, though evidence for these effects is limited. Its main bioactive components include quassinoid compounds, eurycolactones, and eurypeptides.
Tongkat ali is primarily studied for its potential as an aphrodisiac, and its possible benefits include increased testosterone levels, improved erectile function, enhanced fertility, and reduced anxiety. However, the evidence supporting these effects is limited and is largely based on animal studies rather than robust human trials.
Tongkat ali has limited safety and toxicity evidence from human studies, and concerns exist about contamination by heavy metals and potential adverse effects in specific populations, such as pregnant women and people with certain health conditions. Minor side effects have been reported in humans, but overall adverse effects appear to be rare, and it may interact with certain medications like propranolol.
Tongkat ali works primarily through eurycomanone, which has steroidogenic and antiestrogenic effects that inhibit the conversion of testosterone to estrogen and potentially increase testosterone production. It may also enhance sperm production by elevating gonadotropins like luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.
Note that Tongkat Ali is also known as:
- Eurycoma longifolia
- Malaysian ginseng
- Longjack (English)
- Longjax
- Bidara laut (Indonesia)
- Cay Ba Binh (Vietnam)
- Hau Phat (Vietnam)
- Bba Binh (Vietnam)
- Pasak Bumi (Indonesia)
- Langir Siam (Bahrain)
- Piak (Thailand)
- Tung Saw (Thailand)
- Babi Kurus (Japan)
- Penawar Pahit (Malayalam)
- Bedara Mereah (Malayalam)
- Lempedu Pahit (Malayalam)
The standard dosage of tongkat ali for testosterone is 100–600 mg/day. For sexual health and libido, a daily dose of 200–400 mg seems to be effective, which may be divided into 1–2 doses per day, although it’s not known whether one of these dosing regimens is more effective.
Tongkat ali is typically administered orally in the form of a standardized water-soluble extract.
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- ^Bhat R, Karim AATongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): a review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance.Fitoterapia.(2010-Oct)
- ^Wahab MSA, Abd Hamid NN, Yassen AO, Naim MJ, Ahamad J, Zulkifli NW, Ismail FF, Zulkifli MH, Goh KW, Ming LCHow Internet Websites Portray Herbal Vitality Products Containing : An Evaluation of the Quality and Risks of Online Information.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2022-Sep-20)
- ^Leisegang K, Finelli R, Sikka SC, Panner Selvam MK(Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.Medicina (Kaunas).(2022-Aug-04)
- ^Kotirum S, Ismail SB, Chaiyakunapruk NEfficacy of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) on erectile function improvement: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med.(2015 Jul 31)
- ^Thu HE, Mohamed IN, Hussain Z, Jayusman PA, Shuid ANEurycoma Longifolia as a potential adoptogen of male sexual health: a systematic review on clinical studies.Chin J Nat Med.(2017-Jan)
- ^Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh MEffect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects.J Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2013-May-26)
- ^Ang HH, Lee EL, Cheang HSDetermination of mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometer in Tongkat Ali preparations obtained in Malaysia.Int J Toxicol.(2004)
- ^Ang HH, Lee KLContamination of mercury in tongkat Ali hitam herbal preparations.Food Chem Toxicol.(2006-Aug)
- ^Ang HH, Lee EL, Matsumoto KAnalysis of lead content in herbal preparations in Malaysia.Hum Exp Toxicol.(2003-Aug)
- ^Rehman SU, Choe K, Yoo HHReview on a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali): Its Traditional Uses, Chemistry, Evidence-Based Pharmacology and Toxicology.Molecules.(2016-Mar-10)
- ^Acute and Subacute Toxicity Studies of Eurycoma longifolia in Male Rats
- ^, Turck D, Bohn T, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, Naska A, Pelaez C, Pentieva K, Siani A, Thies F, Tsabouri S, Vinceti M, Cubadda F, Frenzel T, Heinonen M, Maradona MP, Marchelli R, Neuhäeuser-Berthold M, Poulsen M, Schlatter JR, van Loveren H, Matijević L, Knutsen HKSafety of (Tongkat Ali) root extract as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.EFSA J.(2021-Dec)
- ^Ulbricht C, Conquer J, Flanagan K, Isaac R, Rusie E, Windsor RCAn evidence-based systematic review of tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.J Diet Suppl.(2013-Mar)
- ^Salman SA, Amrah S, Wahab MS, Ismail Z, Ismail R, Yuen KH, Gan SHModification of propranolol's bioavailability by Eurycoma longifolia water-based extract.J Clin Pharm Ther.(2010-Dec)
- ^Low BS, Choi SB, Abdul Wahab H, Das PK, Chan KLEurycomanone, the major quassinoid in Eurycoma longifolia root extract increases spermatogenesis by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase and aromatase in steroidogenesis.J Ethnopharmacol.(2013-Aug-26)
- ^TambiNutrients and botanicals for optimizing men’s health. Examining the evidence for Eurycoma longifolia Jack, the Malaysian Ginseng in men’s healthAsian Journal of Andrology.(2009-01-01)
- ^Low BS, Das PK, Chan KLStandardized quassinoid-rich Eurycoma longifolia extract improved spermatogenesis and fertility in male rats via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.J Ethnopharmacol.(2013-Feb-13)
- ^MedicineThe Ergogenic Effects of Eurycoma Longifolia Jack: a Pilot Study (Joint Conference of BASEM and BASES)British Journal of Sports Medicine.(2003-10-01)
- ^Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, Chen T, Liu N, Zhu Y, Tambi MITongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors--a pilot study.Phytother Res.(2014-Apr)
- ^Chen CK, Ooi FK, Abu Kasim NA, Asari MAEffects of Jack Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Isokinetic Muscular Strength and Power, Anaerobic Power, and Urinary Testosterone: Epitestosterone Ratio in Young Males.Int J Prev Med.(2019)
- ^Alice Erwig Leitão, Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira, Diogo Almeida Gomes, Leonessa Boing, Andreia Pelegrini, Edson Luiz, Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo GuimarãesExercise associated or not to the intake of Eurycoma longifolia improves strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in men with androgen deficiencyComplement Ther Clin Pract.(2021 Feb)
- ^Alice Erwig Leitão, Melissa Carvalho de Souza Vieira, Andreia Pelegrini, Edson Luiz da Silva, Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo GuimarãesA 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to evaluate the effect of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) and concurrent training on erectile function and testosterone levels in androgen deficiency of aging males (ADAM)Maturitas.(2021 Mar)
- ^Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack Supplementation on Recreational Athletes’ Endurance Running Capacity and Physiological Responses in the Heat
- ^Kaliounji A, Shadid G, Saba H, Ahlawat SA Rare Case of Tongkat Ali-Induced Liver Injury: A Case Report.Cureus.(2024 Mar)
- ^Sasikala M Chinnappan, Annie George, Pragya Pandey, Govinda Narke, Yogendra Kumar ChoudharyEffect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised aqueous root extract-Physta ® on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre studyFood Nutr Res.(2021 May 19)
- ^Han YM, Kim IS, Rehman SU, Choe K, Yoo HHIn Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Extract on CYP-Mediated Drug Metabolism.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2015)
- ^Said MM, Gibbons S, Moffat AC, Zloh MRapid detection of sildenafil analogue in Eurycoma longifolia products using a new two-tier procedure of the near infrared (NIR) spectra database.Food Chem.(2014 Sep 1)
- Sperm Quality - Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WM, George A, Nik Hussain NH, Musthapa Kamal ZM, Liske ERandomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in MenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
- Erections - Kotirum S, Ismail SB, Chaiyakunapruk NEfficacy of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) on erectile function improvement: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med.(2015 Jul 31)
- Testosterone - Shawn M Talbott, Julie A Talbott, Annie George, and Mike PughEffect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjectsJISSN.()
- Testosterone - M I B M Tambi, M K Imran, R R HenkelStandardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism?Andrologia.(2012 May)
- Testosterone - Leisegang K, Finelli R, Sikka SC, Panner Selvam MK(Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.Medicina (Kaunas).(2022-Aug-04)
- Testosterone - Chan KQ, Stewart C, Chester N, Hamzah SH, Yusof AThe effect of Eurycoma Longifolia on the regulation of reproductive hormones in young males.Andrologia.(2021-May)
- Testosterone - Sasikala M Chinnappan, Annie George, Pragya Pandey, Govinda Narke, Yogendra Kumar ChoudharyEffect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised aqueous root extract-Physta ® on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre studyFood Nutr Res.(2021 May 19)
- Strength - Alice Erwig Leitão, Melissa de Carvalho Souza Vieira, Diogo Almeida Gomes, Leonessa Boing, Andreia Pelegrini, Edson Luiz, Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo GuimarãesExercise associated or not to the intake of Eurycoma longifolia improves strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in men with androgen deficiencyComplement Ther Clin Pract.(2021 Feb)
- Testosterone - Henkel RR, Wang R, Bassett SH, Chen T, Liu N, Zhu Y, Tambi MITongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors--a pilot study.Phytother Res.(2014-Apr)
- Strength - Chen CK, Ooi FK, Abu Kasim NA, Asari MAEffects of Jack Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Isokinetic Muscular Strength and Power, Anaerobic Power, and Urinary Testosterone: Epitestosterone Ratio in Young Males.Int J Prev Med.(2019)
- Uric Acid - Chen CK, Mohamad WM, Ooi FK, Ismail SB, Abdullah MR, George ASupplementation of Eurycoma longifolia Jack Extract for 6 Weeks Does Not Affect Urinary Testosterone: Epitestosterone Ratio, Liver and Renal Functions in Male Recreational Athletes.Int J Prev Med.(2014-Jun)
- Neutrophil Count - George A, Suzuki N, Abas AB, Mohri K, Utsuyama M, Hirokawa K, Takara TImmunomodulation in Middle-Aged Humans Via the Ingestion of Physta® Standardized Root Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack--A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Study.Phytother Res.(2016-Apr)