Enhancement of sexual activity, fertility and well-being:

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study was carried out over 12 weeks to investigate the clinical effects of Tongkat Ali (TA) in men. A total of 109 men between 30 and 55 years of age were given either 300 mg of water extract of TA (‘Physta’) or placebo. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire, and sexual well-being was measured using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Sexual Health Questionnaires (SHQ). Seminal Fluid Analysis (SFA), fat mass and safety profiles were also evaluated. The EL group significantly improved in the domain ‘Physical Functioning’ of SF-36 and showed higher scores in the overall ‘Erectile Function’ domain in IIEF and ‘Libido’ (14% by week 12), SFA- with sperm motility at 44.4%, and semen volume at 18.2% at the end of treatment. Subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² significantly improved in loss of fat mass. All safety parameters were comparable to placebo (Ismail et al. 2012).

A standardised water extract of E. longifolia was also used to investigate its effects on male partners of sub-fertile couples with idiopathic infertility (75 patients, 100 mg twice a day for 9 months; 3 cycles of 3 months). The study showed that the extract improved sperm concentration, motility and morphologically normal sperm in men who suffered from infertility due to unknown cause. Further studies are needed to determine the potential use in the treatment of male infertility (Tambi and Imran 2010).