Amazon Man

1. Nutrients and botanicals for erectile dysfunction: examining the evidence.
McKay D.
Altern Med Rev. 2004 Mar;9(1):4-16
Thorne Research, PO Box 25, Dover, ID 83825. duffy@thorne.com
PMID: 15005641 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2. The role of histamine in human penile erection.
Cara AM, Lopes-Martins RA, Antunes E, Nahoum CR, De Nucci G.
Discipline of Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil.
Br J Urol. 1995 Feb;75(2):220-4.
PMID: 7850330 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. [L-arginine and male infertility] [Article in Italian]
Scibona M, Meschini P, Capparelli S, Pecori C, Rossi P, Menchini Fabris GF.
Scuola di Specializzazione in Andrologia, Universita degli Studi di Pisa.
Minerva Urol Nefrol. 1994 Dec;46(4):251-3.
PMID: 7701414 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. “The Impact of Maca Root Extract on Libido, Sexual Function and General Energy Level on Men with Diagnosed Prostate Cancer”
An Anecdotal Trial Recap January 2005 (San Francisco, CA)

5. The relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum* by the herbal medicine Catuama and its constituents.
Antunes E, Gordo WM, de Oliveira JF, Teixeira CE, Hyslop S, De Nucci G.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6111, 13081-970, Campinas (SP), Brazil. eantunes@bestway.com.br
Phytother Res. 2001 Aug;15(5):416-21.
PMID: 11507734 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
*Note: Corpus cavernosum: spongy erectile tissue of the penis

6. Stimulating property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata extracts on the sexual-behavior of male rats.
Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta

9. Effects of Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha on blood levels of estradiol-17 beta, progesterone, testosterone and the rate of embryo implantation in mice.
Oshima M, Gu Y, Tsukada S.
Graduate School of Medical Imaging, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka-shi, Mie, Japan.
J Vet Med Sci. 2003 Oct;65(10):1145-6.
PMID: 14600359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

10. Classification of commercial Catuaba samples by NMR, HPLC and chemometrics.
Daolio C, Beltrame FL, Ferreira AG, Cass QB, Cortez DA, Ferreira MM.
Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luis Km 235, São Carlos/SP, Brazil.
Phytochem Anal. 2007 Sep 21; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 17890569 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

11. On-line identification of tropane alkaloids from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium by liquid chromatography-UV detection-multiple mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.
Zanolari B, Wolfender JL, Guilet D, Marston A, Queiroz EF, Paulo MQ, Hostettmann K.
Institut de Pharmacognosie et Phytochimie, Université de Lausanne, BEP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
J Chromatogr A. 2003 Dec 5;1020(1):75-89.

1. Nutrients and botanicals for erectile dysfunction: examining the evidence.
McKay D.
Altern Med Rev. 2004 Mar;9(1):4-16
Thorne Research, PO Box 25, Dover, ID 83825. duffy@thorne.com
Erectile dysfunction affects 50 percent of men ages 40-70 in the United States and is considered an important public health problem by the National Institutes of Health. Consumers are exposed to a plethora of natural products claiming to restore erection and sexual vitality. A review of the available empirical evidence reveals most naturally occurring compounds lack adequate clinical trials to support efficacy. However, arginine, yohimbine, Panax ginseng, Maca, and Ginkgo biloba all have some degree of evidence they may be helpful for erectile dysfunction. Improvements in penile endothelial L-arginine-nitric oxide activity appear to be a unifying explanation for the actions of these naturally occurring agents.
PMID: 15005641 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2 . The role of histamine in human penile erection.
Cara AM, Lopes-Martins RA, Antunes E, Nahoum CR, De Nucci G.
Discipline of Urology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil.
Br J Urol. 1995 Feb;75(2):220-4.

3. [L-arginine and male infertility] [Article in Italian]
Scibona M, Meschini P, Capparelli S, Pecori C, Rossi P, Menchini Fabris GF.
Scuola di Specializzazione in Andrologia, Universita degli Studi di Pisa.
Minerva Urol Nefrol. 1994 Dec;46(4):251-3.
The clinical efficacy and acceptance of L-arginina HCL was tested in 40 infertile men. All of these men had a normal number of spermatozoa (> 20 million/ml), but a decreased motility; this decreased motility was not due to infection or to immunological disorders. The treatment consisted of 80 ml of 10% L-arginine HCL administered daily per os for 6 months. L-arginine HCL showed to be able to improve the motility of spermatozoa without any side-effects.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial
PMID: 7701414 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. “The Impact of Maca Root Extract on Libido, Sexual Function and General Energy Level on Men with Diagnosed Prostate Cancer”
An Anecdotal Trial Recap January 2005 (San Francisco, CA)
BACKGROUND: Ten members of the Prostate Awareness Foundation (PAF), with diagnosed prostate cancer, recently underwent a three month trial of a Peruvian root known as maca to evaluate its effect. Maca root has a long history of usage in the high Andes of South America, both as a sexual and general endurance enhancer. Inca royalty once felt it was such a powerful botanical that its use was a privilege reserved for the nobility. Maca is a root in the radish family and only grows at elevations above 10,000’. Maca is once again gaining recognition among health professionals, especially in Latin America for its use as an endocrine modulator. Most literature available on the subject is in reference to the use of maca as an endocrine modulator for women dealing with menopausal problems. There have been no studies on the efficacy of maca for men dealing with prostate health concerns. The product for the Prostate Awareness Foundation trial was supplied free of charge, by Herbs America in Murphy, Oregon. They can be reached at 541-846-6222. PAF decided to conduct this small anecdotal trial based on reports from members around the country that were reporting encouraging effects from maca. Specifically, some men on ADT therapy, a pharmaceutical blocking of the bodies ability to produce testosterone, which slows the growth of prostate cancer, who should not have a libido or erection were reporting full sexual function and sexual interest.
THE TRIAL: The goal of the anecdotal trial was to determine if the regular use of maca root extract would have an effect on PSA levels, libido, sexual function and the general endurance level in men with diagnosed prostate cancer. Included in the trial were men who had undergone or are currently undergoing a number of different treatment paths including: radiation, ADT hormonal blockade treatment, radical surgical removal (prostatectomy) or are in various stages of watchful waiting while instituting dietary and lifestyle changes. .

Participants: 10 men with diagnosed prostate cancer
Parameters: Have a PSA test prior to the start of the protocol, have testosterone levels also checked
Take a PSA test after the protocol is completed, have testosterone levels checked and recorded.
Complete a pre and post trial questionnaire
Supply list of current supplementation
Dosage: two tinctures of maca root extract in an alcohol base four times per day for ninety days.
TRIAL RESULTS: Of the ten men beginning the trial, two discontinued use of the product before the completion of the ninety days and were not included in the below summary.
PSA Change: It should be noted that there were no dramatic increases or decreases of PSA in the men reporting at the end of the trial.
2 rise in PSA *
5 lowering of PSA **
1 no change
* one of the two men stopped taking ADT therapy during the trial which is likely the reason for his increase in PSA.
** two of the five men reporting lower PSA levels began taking ADT therapy during the trial. This should be considered an unusual occurrence that merits further study.
Testosterone level changes: Since the use of maca seemed to have a positive effect on the sexual energy of 75% of the men in the trial it is interesting to note that five out of eight men reported a decrease in their testosterone levels. We also know that the primary side effect of ADT therapy, since it is designed to chemically stop the body’s ability to produce testosterone, is a loss of libido. This did not seem to prove out in our trial! Nor did maca seem to raise testosterone levels for the majority of men.
2 increase in testosterone level*
5 decrease in testosterone level**
1 no change in testosterone level
* one of the two men stopped taking ADT therapy during the trial
** two of the five men began taking ADT during the trial
General Energy Level:
6 improvement
1 diminished*
1 no observable change
* participant began ADT therapy during trial and may have been impacted by this new therapy! Many men report a loss of general energy while undergoing ADT therapy.
Sexual Energy & Libido:
6 improved*
2 diminished*
* it should be noted that one participant who reported diminished sexual energy was the same person who began ADT therapy during the trial. It should also be noted that two of the reports of increased sexual energy were from men already on ADT therapy and who should not have had a libido!
Sexual Appetite (General Horniness):
6 improved
1 diminished
1 remained the same
Reported side effects:
Waking up with erection
Stronger and stiffer erection
Plan to continue use of product:
5 Yes
1 No
2 Undecided
Recommend product to friend or associate:
4 Yes
1 No
3 Undecided
Nocturnal urinary frequency: (improvement represents less frequent nocturnal visits)
1 improvement
1 more frequent nocturnal visits
6 remained the same
Mood and feeling of well-being:
6 improved
1 diminished
1 remained the same
Although the results are preliminary and the sample small, the initial results look promising and we feel merit further study. The product does not appear to have a profound effect on PSA levels, is relatively inexpensive and seems to enhance the sexual and general energy of a majority of men who take it.

 

5. The relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum* by the herbal medicine Catuama and its constituents.
Antunes E, Gordo WM, de Oliveira JF, Teixeira CE, Hyslop S, De Nucci G.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6111, 13081-970, Campinas (SP), Brazil. eantunes@bestway.com.br
Phytother Res. 2001 Aug;15(5):416-21.
The effects of the Brazilian herbal medicine Catuama and each of its plant constituents (Paullinia cupana, Trichilia catigua, Zingiber officinalis and Ptychopetalum olacoides) were investigated on rabbit corpus cavernosum (RbCC) using a bioassay cascade. Catuama caused short-lived and dose-dependent relaxations (11% +/- 7%, 26% +/- 5% and 82% +/- 9%, at doses of 1, 3 and 10 mg, respectively). Neither the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 microM) nor the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ (10 microM) significantly affected the Catuama-induced relaxations. Similarly, the selective ATP-dependent K(+) channel (K(ATP)) blocker glibenclamide (10 microM), the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine (1 microM) and the voltage-dependent Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 microM) all failed to affect significantly the Catuama-induced relaxations. These results indicate that the relaxations induced by Catuama involve neither nitric oxide release nor K(ATP) channel activation. The extracts of P. cupana, Z. officinalis and P. olacoides caused short-lived and dose-dependent RbCC relaxations, whereas T. catigua evoked long-lasting relaxations which were occasionally preceded by a brief contractile effect. The extract of P. cupana was the most active in relaxing RbCC strips. The relaxations induced by all extracts were not significantly affected by L-NAME (10 microM). The infusion of ODQ (10 microM) had no significant effect on the P. cupana- and Z. officinalis-induced relaxations but reduced by >50% (p < 0.05) those evoked by P. olacoides and T. catigua. Incubations of RbCC with Catuama(10 mg/mL for 0.25 to 5 min) caused increases of cAMP levels (143% increase at 5 min of incubation). Incubations of RbCC with P. cupana extract (1 mg/mL) increased the cAMP levels by 200% whereas higher doses (10 and 100 mg/mL) caused smaller increases in the nucleotide levels (150% and 89%, respectively). The extracts of Z. officinalis and P. olacoides (same doses) caused smaller increases of the cAMP levels compared with the P. cupana extract, whereas T. catigua (1-100 mg) did not increase the levels of this nucleotide above the basal values. Our results show that of the four extracts assayed, P. cupana was the most effective, indicating that it is the main extract responsible for the relaxing effect of Catuama on rabbit cavernosal tissue. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 11507734 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
*Note: Corpus cavernosum: is one of a pair of a sponge-like regions of erectile tissue which contain most of the blood in the male penis during erection. There are corresponding structures and functions in the female clitoris. The term literally means “cave-like body” (plural: corpora cavernosa).

 

6. Stimulating property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata extracts on the sexual-behavior of male rats.
Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta G, Bertolini A.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. farmacol@unimo.it
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999 Mar;143(1):15-9.
Sexually potent and sexually sluggish/impotent male rats were treated orally with different amounts of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata fluid extracts (0.25, 0.50, 1.0 ml/kg). While having no effect on the copulatory behavior of sexually potent rats, both plant extracts--singly or in combination--improved the copulatory performance of sexually sluggish/impotent rats. The highest dose of either extract (1 ml/kg) (as well as the combination of 0.5 ml/kg of each extract) increased the percentage of rats achieving ejaculation and significantly reduced mount, intromission and ejaculation latencies, post-ejaculatory interval and intercopulatory interval. Neither extract affected locomotor activity. These results seem to support the folk reputation of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata as sexual stimulants.
PMID: 10227074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

7. With specific regard to male sexuality, Kee Chang Juang, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, claimed that in laboratory research, Epimedium appeared to have a sexual stimulatory effect on human males and may also stimulate the growth of the testes. In addition, it was also reported that men who took this herb showed a boost in erectile function and an increase in spermatozoa production. In the Chinese Materia Medica, pharmacist, You-Ping Shu, Ph.D., reported that in animal laboratory experiments, there was an increase in semen secretion.

 

8. Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in arteriosclerosis prophylaxis.
Siegel G, Schäfer P, Winkler K, Malmsten M.
Department of Neurophysiology, Charité--Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. guenter.siegel@charite.de
The prevention or deceleration of atherogenesis is one of the most significant anti-aging objectives since this is a matter of avoidance of myocardial infarction and stroke. To approach this prophylactic aim, phytochemical nutrition counteracting peroxidation of blood lipids based on their scavenger qualities for reactive oxygen species (ROS) can possibly serve. For example, oxidized LDL particles are highly atherogenic. Against this background, we investigated in a pilot study the effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761: Rökan novo), the free oxygen radical scavenging properties of which are well-documented, on the atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation in cardiovascular high-risk patients. In eight patients who had undergone an aortocoronary bypass operation, the reduction of atherosclerotic nanoplaque formation amounted to 11.9 +/- 2.5% (p < 0.0078) and of nanoplaque size to 24.4 +/- 8.1% (p < 0.0234), respectively, after a 2-month therapy with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761, 2 x 120 mg daily, Rökan novo, Spitzner Arzneimittel, Ettlingen, Germany). Additionally, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was upregulated by 15.7 +/- 7.0% (p < 0.0391), the quotient oxLDL/LDL lowered by 17.0 +/- 5.5% (p < 0.0234) and lipoprotein(a) concentration decreased by 23.4 +/- 7.9% (p < 0.0234) in the patients’ blood after the 2-month medication regimen. The concentration of the vasodilating substances cAMP and cGMP was augmented by 37.5 +/- 9.1% (p < 0.0078) and 27.7 +/- 8.3% (p < 0.0156), respectively. A multimodal regression analysis reveals a basis for a mechanistic explanation of nanoplaque reduction under ginkgo treatment. The atherosclerosis inhibiting effect is due to an upregulation in the body’s own radical scavenging enzymes and an attenuation of the risk factors oxLDL/LDL and Lp(a). Furthermore, the significant increase in the vasodilator cAMP and cGMP concentration powerfully supports the maintenance of an open bypass. The effects of two Peruvian folk medicines, Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha, on mouse sex steroid hormones and embryo implantation were investigated. Progesterone levels increased significantly in mice that received L. meyenii Walp, while testosterone levels increased significantly in mice that received L. meyenii Walp as well as in those that received both L. meyenii Walp and J. macrantha. However, there were no marked changes in blood levels of estradiol-17beta or the rate of embryo implantation.
PMID: 14600359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9. Effects of Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha on blood levels of estradiol-17 beta, progesterone, testosterone and the rate of embryo implantation in mice.
J Vet Med Sci. 2003 Oct;65(10):1145-6.
Oshima M, Gu Y, Tsukada S.Graduate School of Medical Imaging, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka-shi, Mie, Japan.
The effects of two Peruvian folk medicines, Lepidium meyenii Walp and Jatropha macrantha, on mouse sex steroid hormones and embryo implantation were investigated. Progesterone levels increased significantly in mice that received L. meyenii Walp, while testosterone levels increased significantly in mice that received L. meyenii Walp as well as in those that received both L. meyenii Walp and J. macrantha. However, there were no marked changes in blood levels of estradiol-17beta or the rate of embryo implantation.PMID: 14600359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

10. Classification of commercial Catuaba samples by NMR, HPLC and chemometrics.
Daolio C, Beltrame FL, Ferreira AG, Cass QB, Cortez DA, Ferreira MM.
Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luis Km 235, São Carlos/SP, Brazil.
Phytochem Anal. 2007 Sep 21; [Epub ahead of print]
For over a century, Catuaba has been used in Brazilian folk medicine as an aphrodisiac even though the identity of the plant material employed is often uncertain. The species recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopeia is Anemopaegma arvense (Bignoniaceae), but many other plants, regionally known as Catuaba, are commercialised. Frequently, the quality control of such a complex system is based on chemical markers that do not supply a general idea of the system. With the advent of the metabolomics approach, a global analysis of samples becomes possible. It appears that (1)H-NMR is the most useful method for such application, since it can be used as a wide-spectrum chemical analysis technique. Unfortunately, the generated spectra is complex so a possible approach is to look at the metabolite profile as a whole using multivariate methods, for example, by application of principal component analysis (PCA). In the present paper, we describe for the first time a proton high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-HR-MAS NMR) method coupled with PCA for the metabolomic analysis of some commercial Catuaba samples, which provided a reduction in the time required for such analysis. A comparative study of HPLC, HR-MAS and liquid-NMR techniques is also reported. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 17890569 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

11. On-line identification of tropane alkaloids from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium by liquid chromatography-UV detection-multiple mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.
Zanolari B, Wolfender JL, Guilet D, Marston A, Queiroz EF, Paulo MQ, Hostettmann K.
Institut de Pharmacognosie et Phytochimie, Université de Lausanne, BEP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
J Chromatogr A. 2003 Dec 5;1020(1):75-89.
The bark of catuaba (Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius, Erythroxylaceae), a tree native to the northern part of Brazil, was investigated for its alkaloid content. With the aim of obtaining preliminary structure information on-line, the alkaloid extract was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array UV detection, to mass spectrometry and to nuclear magnetic resonance. Interpretation of on-line spectroscopic data obtained from this extract led to structural elucidation of six new alkaloids and partial identification of 18 potentially original alkaloids bearing the same tropane skeleton esterified in positions 3 and 6 by 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-carboxylic acid and/or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid.
PMID: 14661759 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]