Comparison of Three Aphrodisiac Plants (Eurycoma longifolia, Polyalthia bullata and Stema tuberosa) Synonymous with Tongkat Ali

Abstract

The Tongkat Ali market presence in the US is considered safe by the general public as Federal Drug Agency (FDA) regulates its use less than many newer aphrodisiacs due to its long-acceptable presence in the market. 3 Although the plant is recognised for its century-long use in many ailments in Malaysia, it is most popularly used in the Western world, notably to support the active lifestyles of males, who are keen to develop muscle over fat, revive libido of ageing men, improve sexual performance and cure specific sexual dysfunctions. 4 P. bullata is frequently referred to as Tongkat Ali Hitam or Pasak Bumi Hitam due to the deeper hue of its roots and bark. P. bullata belongs to the Annonaceae genus of flowering plants. The plant can grow up to 2-3 metres, primarily in the lowlands of Peninsular Malaysia and the primary and secondary forests of Sabah (a state of Malaysia located within Borneo island). 5 P. bullata is another aphrodisiac herb historically utilised predominantly in Malaysia. 6 The root extract of P. bullata is often ingested as a decoction by most consumers and is readily accessible on the global market. It is also taken to increase sexual desire and as a general tonic for males. 7 Stema tuberosa is the least known and studied of the three Tongkat Ali plants. S. tuberosa was previously known as Jackia ornata or Jackiopsis ornate. 8 Interestingly, very few insignificant studies were made on the aphrodisiac potential. S. tuberosa has a distinctive red-coloured root, thereby known to the locals as Tongkat Ali Merah, Pasak Bumi Merah, Tongkat Haji Samat, and Ajisamat or spelt instead as Haji Samat. 9 It belongs to the Stemonaceae family of flowering plants and grows in sandy hills with altitudes below 400 metres as well as on flat secondary forests. 8,10 This plant is very rarely sold on western E-commerce platforms. If found, it is usually sold in its original form of dry-cut chips and often only stated as Tongkat Ali with no mention of S. tuberosa or Tongkat Ali Merah; hence consumers may confuse it with the other Tongkat Ali plants. 1,11 Similar to the other two Tongkat Ali, S. tuberosa is also sold for its aphrodisiac potential. Therefore, due to their commercial significance as aphrodisiacs, the three Tongkat Ali plants are investigated to compare their properties to