Eurycoma longifolia

This article is about the small Asian tree in the genus Eurycoma. For the tall Australian tree also known as "Long Jack", see Flindersia xanthoxyla.
Eurycoma longifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Simaroubaceae
Genus: Eurycoma
Species: E. longifolia
Binomial name
Eurycoma longifolia
Jack[1]

Eurycoma longifolia (commonly called tongkat ali or pasak bumi) is a flowering plant in the family Simaroubaceae, native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and, to a lesser extent, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The plant is a medium-sized slender shrub that can reach 10 meters in height, and is often unbranched. The root of the plant has been used in folk medicine of the South East Asian region, and in modern times has common use as supplements, as well as food and drink additives.

Names

E. longifolia is also known by the common names penawar pahit, penawar bias, bedara merah, bedara putih, lempedu pahit, payong ali, tongkat baginda, muntah bumi, petala bumi (all Malay); Malaysian ginseng;[2] bidara laut (Indonesian); babi kurus (Javanese); cây bá bệnh (Vietnamese);[3] tho nan (Laotian);[4] "long jack" (US). Many of the common names refer to the plant's medicinal use and extreme bitterness. Penawar pahit translates simply as "bitter charm" or "bitter medicine".[5] Older literature, such as a 1953 article in the Journal of Ecology, may cite only penawar pahit as the plant's common Malay name.[6]

As mentioned above, E. longifolia is known by common names "tongkat ali" and "pasak bumi" in the South East Asian region, but these names are also used for the physiologically similar species Polyalthia bullata.[7] The bark and root of E. longifolia is more white/yellow-ish compared to the darker-colored P. bullata, which has led to the former being known as "tongkat ali/pasak bumi putih" or "tongkat ali/pasak bumi kuning", and the latter as "tongkat ali/pasak bumi hitam".[7] ("Putih" means "white", "kuning" means "yellow", and "hitam" means "black" in Malay/Indonesian.) Indonesia also has a red-coloured variety known as "tongkat ali/pasak bumi merah" ("merah" meaning "red"), which is being studied by researchers and has not had its species classified.[8]

Description

A medium size slender shrub reaching 10 m in height, often unbranched with reddish brown petioles. Leaves compound, even pinnate reaching 1 m in length. Each compound leaf consists of 30-40 leaflets, lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate. Each leaflet is about 5–20 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, much paler on the ventral side. Inflorecense axillary, in large brownish red panicle, very pubescent with very fine, soft, grandular trichomes. Flowers are hermaphrodite. Petals small, very fine pubescent. Drupe hard, ovoid, yellowish brown when young and brownish red when ripe.[9] The plant grows in the understorey of lowland forests, and survives on a variety of soils but prefers acidic, well-drained soil.[10]

Chemical composition

Eurycoma longifolia has been reported to contain the compounds eurycomanol, eurycomanone, and eurycomalactone.[10]

Uses

The plant is used in the traditional medicine of Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the root of the plant is boiled in water, and the water is consumed as a health tonic for post-partum recovery, as an aphrodisiac, as well as the relief of fever, intestinal worms, dysentery, diarrhoea, indigestion, and jaundice. In Vietnam, the flower and fruits are used to treat dysentery. In Malaysia, a paste of the plant is applied topically to relieve headaches and stomach-aches.[10]

In modern times, E. longifolia is generally known as an aphrodisiac.[10][11][12] Other health benefits attributed to this plant include antimalarial, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and antipyretic activities.[13] There has been some scientific research carried out on E. longifolia towards analyzing its benefits, but according to WebMD, while evidence suggests one specific E. longifolia supplement might have some role in boosting sperm quality in infertile men, there remains insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness for the treatment of cancer, malaria, and tuberculosis.[14]

In Indonesia and Malaysia, E. longifolia has been widely commercialized. Its root, which is highly bitter,[11] has been used as the basis for supplements, as well as food and drink additives. As a supplement, it has been marketed for the supposed benefits of sexual health improvement, as an energy and stamina booster, for improving blood circulation,[10] and as a testosterone booster.[15] In the drinks market, it is a common ingredient for coffee and functional beverages positioned as energy drinks.

Commercialization issues

Adulteration and contamination

There have been a number of cases of products falsely claiming to contain E. longifolia as an ingredient, as well as E. longifolia product contamination cases. Examples are listed below.

An electronic taste sensor was devised to detect the presence and concentration of quassinoids and determine the use of genuine E longifolia.[16] This alleged taste sensor has, however, since its invention more than 10 years ago, not found entry into testing practices in laboratories. Even on Google Scholar, it is referenced only in the original article by the inventors. Quassinoids, the biologically active components of E. longifolia root,[17][18][19] are bitter, and named after quassin, the long-isolated bitter principle of the quassia tree. However, E. longifolia does not contain any quassin, and that quassin is bitter does not mean that every quassinoid is just as bitter. Furthermore, the most bitter substance in nature, denatonium, is readily available as a bittering agent to avoid incidental ingestion of poisons, and is probably added to fake tongkat ali extracts. Consumers are advised to treat with caution any online retailer who emphasizes bitterness as proof for a genuine product.

The US FDA has banned numerous products such as Libidus,[20] claiming to use E. longifolia as principal ingredient, but which instead are concoctions designed around illegal prescription drugs, or even worse, analogues of prescription drugs that have not even been tested for safety in humans, such as acetildenafil.[21] In February 2009, the FDA warned against almost 30 illegal sexual enhancement supplements,[22] but the names of these products change quicker than the FDA can investigate them. Libidus, for example, is now sold as Maxidus, still claiming E. longifolia as the principal ingredient.[23] In relation to such tactics, the USFDA preventive measures taken in 2008 saw the seizure of more than 14,000 dosages of products originating from China under multiple names.[24]

In Malaysia, there are over 200 registered E. longifolia products, but when quality tested, one study determined that 36% were contaminated with mercury beyond legally permitted limits.[25][26] The Malaysian government has also banned numerous fake products which use drugs such as sildenafil citrate instead of tongkat ali in their capsules. To avoid being hurt by bad publicity on one product name, those who sell fake tongkat ali have resorted to using many different names for their wares.[27]

Other products claiming to be tongkat ali, or to contain it, such as SD-200, sold by a business named Pure Science Supplements in Singapore, have been warned against on legitscript.com, the world's foremost site protecting consumer health by tracking down the illegitimate sale of pharmaceuticals on the Internet.

Standardization

Products claiming various E. longifolia extract ratios of 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, and 1:200 are sold. Traditionally, E. longifolia is extracted with water and not ethanol. However, selling E. longifolia extract based on extraction ratio may be confusing and is not easily verifiable, but extracts of the higher strength ratios tend to be darker in colour, a very Dark Brown at the 1:200 ratio. To date, there are no active markers identified for E. longifolia. While there are many quassinoids in Eurycoma longifolia, and while it has not been sufficiently researched which of them is responsible for the alleged pharmaceutical effects, eurycomanone is the one that has been isolated in most attempts.

Patents

A water extract has been copatented by the government of Malaysia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology[28] for sexual dysfunction and male infertility. A polar organic solvent have also been patented with approximately similar claims.[29] Other patents in relation to tongkat ali have also been filed which claims use for maintaining anabolic hormone profile during weight loss and intense exercise.[30]

However, the idea that products of nature on which exist a large body of knowledge among indigenous peoples can be the subject of intellectual property rights, even of national governments, has long been challenged in peer-reviewed law journals.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Eurycoma longifolia information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  2. ↑ Ken, Chee Cheong (8 March 2012). "Herbs in exercise and sports". Journal of Physiological Anthropology 31 (1): 4. doi:10.1186/1880-6805-31-4.
  3. ↑ vi:Bá bệnh
  4. ↑ Medicinal Plants, International Technology Center, United Nations International Development Organisation, UNIDO, Trieste, Italy
  5. ↑ Free Indonesian and Malay dictionary search
  6. ↑ Wyatt-Smith, J. (August 1953). "The Vegetation of Jarak Island, Straits of Malacca". Journal of Ecology 41 (2): 207–225. doi:10.2307/2257036. JSTOR 2257036.
  7. 1 2 Vimala, S., ed. (2013). Malaysian Herbal Heritage. Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.
  8. ↑ Rachman, Taufik (2015-08-14). "UMP Teliti Pasak Bumi Merah". Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  9. ↑ Malaysian Herbal Monograph Technical Committee (1999). Malaysian Herbal Monograph. Vol. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. ISBN 983987019X, 9789839870190
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Samy, Joseph; Manickam, Sugumaran (2005). Herbs of Malaysia. Times Editions. p. 104-105. ISBN 9833001793.
  11. 1 2 Chai, Paul (2006). Medicinal Plants of Sarawak. Lee Miin Press. p. 150. ISBN 9834325517.
  12. ↑ Riviera, Gloria (2014-10-16). "Natural Remedy May Dramatically Transform Sexual Enhancement Market". ABCnews.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  13. ↑ Bhat, R; Karim, AA (2010). "Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): a review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance". Fitoterapia 81 (7): 669–79. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2010.04.006. PMID 20434529.
  14. ↑ "Eurycoma longifolia". WebMD. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Crane, Michael (2016-03-09). "LJ 100 Tongkat Ali Extract Granted New Safety Confirmation and Health Canada Claims". NutritionalOutlook.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  16. ↑ Abdullah, M.Z.; Rahman, A.S.A.; Shakaff, A.Y.M.; Noor, A.M. (2004). "Discrimination and classification of Eurycoma longifolia Jack in medicinal foods by means of a DSP-based electronic taste sensor". Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control 26: 19. doi:10.1191/0142331204tm0103oa.
  17. ↑ Jiwajinda, S; Santisopasri, V; Murakami, A; Sugiyama, H; Gasquet, M; Riad, E; Balansard, G; Ohigashi, H (2002). "In vitro anti-tumor promoting and anti-parasitic activities of the quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia, a medicinal plant in Southeast Asia". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 82 (1): 55–8. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00160-5. PMID 12169407.
  18. ↑ Ang, H (2000). "Eurycolactones A–C, novel quassinoids from Eurycoma longifolia". Tetrahedron Letters 41 (35): 6849. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)01159-X.
  19. ↑ Tada, H; Yasuda, F; Otani, K; Doteuchi, M; Ishihara, Y; Shiro, M (1991). "Nouveaux quassinoïdes antiulcéreux à partir d'Eurycoma longifolia". European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 26 (3): 345. doi:10.1016/0223-5234(91)90069-Y.
  20. ↑ FDA Warns Consumers About Dangerous Ingredients in "Dietary Supplements" Promoted for Sexual Enhancement
  21. ↑ FDA Warning Letter
  22. ↑ Hidden Risks of Erectile Dysfunction "Treatments" Sold Online
  23. ↑ This no-follow link to a spam site is included only as evidence and reference that the illegal drug Libidus is now sold as Maxidus, still with the claim that it is mostly E. longifolia.
  24. ↑ USFDA Consumer Health Information link
  25. ↑ Ang, Hooi-Hoon; Lee, Ee-Lin; Cheang, Hui-Seong (2004). "Determination of Mercury by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in Tongkat Ali Preparations Obtained in Malaysia". International Journal of Toxicology 23 (1): 65–71. doi:10.1080/10915810490269654. PMID 15162849.
  26. ↑ Ang HH (2004). "An insight into Malaysian herbal medicines". Trends Pharmacol Sci 25 (6): 297–298. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2004.04.003. PMID 15165743.
  27. ↑ "Etumax products banned by ministry".
  28. ↑ U.S. Patent 7,132,117 Inventors: T.G. Sambandan, ChoKyun Rha, Azizol Abdul Kadir, Norhaniza Aminudim, Johari Md. Saad. Assignees: Government of Malaysia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  29. ↑ US Patent 20100221370 A1 link
  30. ↑ US Patent 20070224302 A1 link
  31. ↑ Huft, Michael J. (October 1995). "Indigenous People and Drug Discovery Research: A Question of Intellectual Property Rights". Northwestern University Law Review 89.
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