Butea superba enhances dihydrotestosterone

Updated January 19, 2023

Butea superba is a rare vine in Thai forests. It propagates in a network of roots. If one finds 1, there will be 100s. The roots form soft tubers that can be scooped by spoon. All this tissue is bleeding a red sap.

The above short video shows a Butea superba vine. If one enters a Thai forest in search for butea superba, one looks at tree tops to see what specimens are overgrown with vines. One then traces the vine to see where it enters the ground. That can be several trees away. The tubers are in a network of roots, just 10 centimeters under the surface. If the tubers are injured by digging tools, they will immerdiately start bleeding a red sap.

99 percent of commercial Butea superba is actually Butea monosperma, a common tree in the same botanical genus. Monosperma is sold as sliced tree branches with a red ring under the bark, called phloem. - A wooden core is monosperma, not superba.

Butea superba is a powerful enhancer of dihydrotestosterone, the form of testosterone responsible for libido in men. Butea superba can greatly affect sexual desire, up to pathological dimensions. Please see what was published by the US NIH (National Institutes of Health).

References:

Bhat, Rajeev; Karim, A.A. (2010), Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): A review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance, Fitoterapia, Volume 81, Issue 7, Pages 669-679

Chaiyasit, K., Wiwnaitkit, V. (2012), Hyperandrogenemia due to ingestion of Butea superba , Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Volume 16 Issue 3 Pages: 485 486, https://dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F2230-8210.95756

Cherdshewasart, W.; Nimsakul, N. (2003), Clinical trial of Butea superba, an alternative herbal treatment for erectile dysfunction, Asian Journal of Andrology,Volume 5, Pages 243-246

Cherdshewasart, Wichai; Bhuntaku, Papong; Panriansaen, Rattana; Dahlan, Winai; Malaivijitnond, Suchinda (2008), Androgen disruption and toxicity tests of Butea superba Roxb., a traditional herb used for treatment of erectile dysfunction, in male rats, Maturitas, Volume 60, Issue 2, Pages 131-137

Eumkeb, G., Naknarong, W., Sirichaiwetchakoon, K. , (2013), The effects of Red Kwao Krue (Butea Superba Roxb.) extract on sperm quality and testosterone level in mice. Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Volume 38 (Suppl.), Retrieved from: http://www.thaiscience.info/journals/Article/TJPS/10962963.pdf

Henkel R.R.; Wang R.; Bassett S.H.; Chen T.; Liu N.; Zhu Y. et al. (2014), Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors - A pilot study , Pharmacological Research, Volume 28, Pages 544-550, https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5017

Malaivijitnond, S., Ketsuwan, A., Watanabe, G., Taya, K., Cherdshewasart, W., (2010), Luteinizing hormone reduction by the male potency herb, Butea superba Roxb. , Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, Volume 43 Number 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2010007500076

Mizuki, D., Matsumoto, K., Tanaka, K., Thi Le, X., Fujiwara H., Ishikawa, T., Higuchi, Y., (2014, October 28). Antidepressant-like effect of Butea superba in mice exposed to chronic mild stress and its possible mechanism of action. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874114006084

Nimsoongnern, S.; Pinthong, D.; Plasen, S.; Wilairat, P.; Kusamran, T.; Anukarahanonta, T. , (2008), The effect of butea superba roxb., a Thai traditional medicine, on endogenous steroid levels in males. Retrieved from: https://www.bisp-surf.de/Record/PU200909005112

See, Kwan Li; Tan, Shu Ying; Hirata, Yoshiyuki; Chan, Lai-Keng; Nagaoka, Yasuo; Uesato, Shinichi; Boey, Peng Lim (2021), Biotic elicitation at different feeding time in cell suspension cultures of Eurycoma longifolia Jack, a valuable medicinal plant, for enhancement of cytotoxic activity of bioactive compounds against human colon cancer cell line, In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, Volume 58, Pages15–27

Talbott, Shawn M. (2013), Human Performance and Sports Applications of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia), Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance Muscle Building, Endurance, and Strength, Pages 501-505

Tocharusa, C., Jeenapongsaa,R., Teakthonga, T., Smitasirib, Y., (2005), Effects of Long-term Treatment of Butea superba on Sperm Motility and Concentration. Naresuan University Journal Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages: 11-17, Retrieved from: http://www.thaiscience.info/Journals/Article/NUJ/10440973.pdf

Tocharus, C., Sooksaen, P., Shimbhu, D., Tocharus, J., (2011), Butea superba (Roxb.) improves penile erection in diabetic rats. Andrologia, Volume 44, Issue 1 Pages: 728-733, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01257.