on July 17, 2026
Tribulus
Saponine steroidee, Alcaloidi
Ipotalamo, Ipofisi, Recettori beta-adrenergici
Infertilità maschile, ipogonadismo tardivo, disfunzione erettile
Ashwagandha
Withanolidi, Alcaloidi, Saponine
Sistema Nervoso Centrale, Asse Ipotalamo-Ipofisi-Gonadi
Stress, disfunzione sessuale, invecchiamento cellulare
Muira Puama
Muirapuamina, Steroli, Cumarine
Recettori Adrenergici, Recettori Dopaminergici D1
Disfunzione erettile, vigore sessuale
Catuaba
Catuabine A-D, Cinconine
Recettori Dopaminergici, Azione Citoprotettiva
Esaurimento psico-fisico, stati depressivi lievi
Ginkgo biloba
Microcircolazione Periferica
Disfunzione sessuale indotta da farmaci antidepressivi (SSRI)
Aumento del flusso sanguigno pelvico
Damiana
Sistema Nervoso Centrale, Proprietà Ansiolitiche e Antidepressive
Inibizione psicogena del desiderio
Azione stimolante sul sistema nervoso centrale
Tribulus
Protodioscin, Steroidal saponins
NO synthesis, Estrogen receptors $\beta$, HPG axis
Erectile deficit, hypogonadism, anovulation, drop in desire
Withania
Withanolides, Alkaloids
Cortisol reduction, cholinergic stimulation, testosterone synthesis
Oligospermia, performance anxiety, psychophysical stress-induced infertility
Muira Puama
Muirapuamina, Phytosterols
D1 dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors
Impotence, sexual asthenia, mild cognitive deficit
Catuaba
Catuabine A-D, Cinconine
Dopaminergic system, antioxidant activity
Mild depression, nervous exhaustion, immunostimulation
Pfaffia
Plant hormones, Saponins
Hematopoiesis, pancreatic support, general tonic
Anemia due to reduced cellular activity, asthenia, psychophysical stress
Safety, Interactions and Contraindications
The use of these phytocomplexes must be carefully evaluated based on the subject's pathophysiological conditions:
- Maca: Use is discouraged in subjects with elevated PSA levels, a history of prostate cancer, or breast cancer, due to potential indirect hormonal receptor stimulation.
- Tribulus terrestris: Abuse at high doses can overload renal and hepatic function.
- Yohimbine/Yohimbe: Being a potent $\alpha_2$-adrenergic antagonist, it is strictly contraindicated in hypothyroid, diabetic, cardiac patients, or those with psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, psychosis).
- Boswellia (Frankincense): Although its triterpenes increase fertility and sperm motility in animal models, the extract has also shown antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity in vitro, requiring caution in cases of concomitant oncological therapies.
Bibliographic References
· AA. VV. (2009). WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Vol. 4. World Health Organization.
· Ambiye, V. R., Langade, D., Dongre, S., et al. (2013). Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 571420.
· Angusti, A., & Manfredini, S. (2016). Il tesoro degli Inca. Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche – Università di Ferrara & Polichimica Bologna, Ferrara, 18 novembre 2016.
· Chauhan, N. S., Sharma, V., Dixit, V. K., & Thakur, M. (2014). A Review on Plants used for improvement of sexual performance and virility. BioMed Research International, Aug 18, 2014.
· Corazza, O., Martinotti, G., Santacroce, R., et al. (2014). Sexual Enhancement products for sale online: raising awareness of the psychoactive effects of Yohimbine, Maca, Horny Goat Weed and Ginkgo biloba. BioMed Research International, 15 June 2014.
· Esparza, E., Hadzich, A., Kofer, W., Mithöfer, A., & Cosio, G. E. (2015). Bioactive maca (Lepidium meyenii) alkamides are a result of traditional Andean postharvest drying practices. Phytochemistry, 2015.
· GamalEl Din, S. F., et al. (2019). Tribulus terrestris versus placebo in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with late-onset hypogonadism: A clinical trial. Urologia Journal, 86(2), 74-78.
· Gonzales-Arimborgo, C., Yupanqui, I., Montero, E., et al. (2016). Acceptability, Safety and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled study. Pharmaceuticals, 9, 49, Basel, Switzerland, 2016.
· Jing, Li, Qingrui, Sun, & Qingran, Meng (2016). Antifatigue activity of polysaccharide fractions from Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca). International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Nov. 2016.
· Kashani, L., et al. (2017). Herbal medicine in the management of female infertility: A systematic review. Journal of Tehran University Heart Center, 12(3), 101-109.
· Kotta, S., Ansari, H. S., & Ali, J. (2013). Exploring scientifically proven herbal aphrodisiacs. Pharmacognosy Review, Jan – Jun, 2013.
· Mathur, M., & Sundaramoorthy, S. (2012). Ethnopharmacological Studies of Tribulus terrestris. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 1 Oct., 2012.
· Meissner, H. O., Mrozikiewicz, P., Bobkiewicz–Kozlowska, T., et al. (2006). Hormone-balancing Effect of pregelatinized organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): Biochemical and Pharmacodynamic Study on Maca using clinical Laboratory model on ovariectomized rats. International Journal of Biomedical Science, September, Master Publishing Group, 2006.
· Pokrywka, A., Obminski, Z., Malczewska-Lenczowska, J., Fijalek, Z., Turek-Lepa, E., & Grucza, R. (2014). Insights into Supplements with Tribulus terrestris used by Athletes. Journal of Human Kinetics, June 28, 2014.
· Postigo, S., et al. (2016). Assessment of the effects of Tribulus terrestris on sexual function in menopausal women. Climacteric, 19(4), 352-356.
· Powers, N. C., & Setzer, N. W. (2015). A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, USA, 2015.
· Sahelian, R. (M.D.) (2016). Muira Puama benefit, side effect as aphrodisiac herb, use with catuaba, marapuama. August 8, 2016.
· Santos, C. A., et al. (2019). Tribulus terrestris for male implants and infertility: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 235, 12-20.
· Sarris, J., et al. (2018). Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review of clinical trials. Phytotherapy Research, 32(8), 1421-1433.
· Singh, S., Nair, V., & Gupta, K. Y. (2012). Evaluation of the aphrodisiac activity of Tribulus terrestris. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, Jan – Mar., pp. 43 – 47, 2012.
· Tahvilzadeh, M., et al. (2016). An evidence-based review on the treatment of sexual dysfunction with Tribulus terrestris. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 13(4), 450-461.
