All that i've found on Butea (sorry if it's long,it's from my Word file, but i can't post links):
BUTEA SUPERBA :aargh4:
Butea Superba is a climbing plant found in Thailand, and is locally used as an aphrodisiac and energy booster. There is one study that it brought it to people attention, and is this, regarding a 35 year old man with sky-high DHT levels:
Altough there is no much research on this product regarding testosterone and DHT, i will post the most important research (for me) that i found, and that it seems the less known.
This research show treatment on 15 normal men aged 25-50, and altough there seems to be no change in testosterone, it shows there are notably changes in LH (lutenizing hormone) from the hypothalamus, and androstenedione, an androgen, precursor to testosterone, DHT, and estrogens:
This is only a 7 days supplementation, and altough estrogens are elevated, there must be a conversion to DHT, since androstenedione can convert to testosterone or directly into DHT. My toughts on these results are that the plant can be used to elevate DHT levels, maybe with the use of an herbal aromatase inhibitor to prevent androstenedione converting to estrogens instead of T or DHT....
This study was conducted on mice with induced chronic depression, and it found that Butea Superba can alleviate these symptoms, acting as an anti-depressant. Since DHT in it's nature is very "calming" and has neuroprotective effect, there's the possibility it also acted as anti depressant here. Most studies shows correlation between low androgens levels and depression.
In this study on mice they show effects of androgenicity although there's a decrease in T: my hypothesis is that maybe T is being converted in part to DHT, although there are no measurements for this hormone:
One study hypothesized that Butea Superba has direct androgenic effects, as evidenced by 150-200mg/kg of the root powder causing a dose-dependent decrease in serum testosterone paired with side-effects commonly associated with androgenicity (increased serum ALP and AST; increased spleen weight).[14] These androgenic effects were replicated in female mice.[15]
Limited evidence in support of it, but there is some evidence to suggest that components of Butea Superba have direct androgenic actions
In rats, Butea Superba at oral doses of 10, 50, or 250mg/kg daily for 8 weeks failed to influence circulating testosterone levels[16] although another study noted a dose-dependent decrease above 250mg/kg.[14] When tested in humans, in a sample of persons with erectile dysfunction an increase from 2.751.40ng/mg to 3.061.37ng/mg (11.2%) was observed but deemed to be not statistically significant.[12]
At least one case study has noted a case of hyperandrogenemia associated with Butea Superbasupplementation, where a 35 year old man took Butea Superba (unreported dosage) for 'a few weeks' for the purposes of hair regrowth and upon clinical examination his serum DHT was 1512pg/mL (152% of the maximum possible value in the normal range), 328ug/mL DHEAS, 1.7% free testosterone and 43.24pg/mL SHBG.[17] Upon cessation of the herb, DHT and sexual desire normalized at 1 week followup.
Highly unreliable effects on circulating testosterone, with decreases (thought to be secondary to androgenic phytonutrients) and increases (reason unknown) both being reported
Here's another report from one person that use it:
This herb has been proven to increase testicle size in male rats, and the human studies have been impressive too.
Here's a rundown of the rat study...
The effects of Butea superba on the reproductive system in male Wistar rats were investigated. The animals were fed daily with the powdered crude butea superba herb.
The testicles of the group fed with 1250 mg of the powder were significantly larger than the control group. In addition, the sperm counts in this group showed an increase of 16% over the controls.
So,
bigger testicles, and more sperm production...
Sounds pretty good to me!
Here's a breakdown of the human trial...
To study the effect of Butea superba on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Thai males. METHODS: A 3-month randomized double-blind clinical trial was carried out in volunteers with ED, aged 30 years approximately 70 years, to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the crude preparation of Butea superba tubers on ED.
RESULTS: Estimation of the sexual record indicated that 82.4% of the patients exhibited noticeable improvement. CONCLUSION: The plant preparation appears to improve the erectile function in ED patients without apparent toxicity.
What is Butea Superba?
It is a creeping vine native to Thailand. Thai men have been using this herb for centuries to treat sexual dysfunction.
The big male testicles are a pleasant side effect.
My take on Butea Superba!
I really like this stuff. The feel of this herb is very similar to Mucuna Pruriens, so I have a feeling that it effects dopamine levels somehow, but that's just a gut feeling on my part.
I do know that it stimulates the acetylcholine receptors, which relax the blood vessels leading to the penis and testicles.
It appears that this vasodialation is especially strong in the area of the testicles with this herb.
I definitely get a strong boost in mood, energy, and motivation , and a big hit in the libido department.
Ejaculation volume is clearly increased as well.
--Butea Superba: The Breakdown & The Benefits
Butea superba (Red kwao krua)
• Butea superba (Red kwao krua) is an native herb of Thailand, found in the forests. Butea superba belongs to the herbs Family Leguminosae.
• Constituents of Butea superba include flavonoids such as butenin and butin, and sterols including beta-sitosterol and campesterol. Butea superba also contains medicarpin, and the isoflavonoids formononetin, prunetin, and 7,4-dimethoxyisoflavone.
• These constituents of Butea superba are found to have similar activity to gonadotropic releasing hormone (GnRH) and testosterone.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is released from hypothalamus gland to the pituitary gland. GnRH hormone, in turn, causes the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins, released into the bloodstream where it travels to the male testes and triggers the production of testosterone.
• Thus Butea superba is called “phytoandrogen” which means male hormone derived from plant.
• High Flavonoid and flavonoid glycoside which is found in Butea superba are antioxidants which antioxidants are known to protect against cancers and beneficial for blood vessel functions. It triggered the release of active substances that vasodilate (expand blood vessels), or increase blood flow in the artery.
• Scientists found that these two compounds, flavonoid and flavonoid glycoside from Butea superba show higher inhibitory effects on cAMP phosphodiesterase, which this enzyme is directly related to corpus cavernosal vasodilation.
• Corpus cavernosa is the major tissue of penis, responsible for the rigidity of the erect penis. To inhibit cAMP phosphodiesterase enzyme will help promote vasodilation (blood flow) at the penis area.
• This cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitory effects is similar to the mechanism of PDE 5 inhibitors.
• A phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 inhibitor) is a drug used to block the degradative action of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) on cyclic GMP in the smooth muscle cells lining the blood vessels supplying the corpus cavernosum of the penis. These drugs are used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Example in the market is sildenafil (Viagra).
• Butea superba has been tested in trials with male subjects with erectile dysfunction and the results are clinically proved.
• As we all know, the Key factors to treat Erectile dysfunction (ED) are to increase testosterone hormone and increase blood circulation to the penis area. Butea superba has been proved to show these two benefits with great effects while the herb is very safe to use, even in men with diabetes, with mild to moderate heart diseases and mild to moderate hypertension.
In conclusion,
The main Butea Superba benefits are:
Controls Erectile Dysfunction: Treatment of erectile dysfunction safely, instead of PDE 5 inhibitor drugs which consumers have to use with high caution as the side effects are fatal.
Sexual Enhancement: Improved sexual performance and stamina. Increases erection size and strength and allows men with Erectile Dysfunction to perform naturally and at their full potential.
A Natural Testosterone Supplement: Replacment of the loss of natural testosterone in men above 40, which aids in restoring men’s youthful appearance and sexual vigor.
Other benefits of Butea superba:
Higher sperm concentration: In clinical trails tested on animals, Butea superba has been shown to increase sperm count and testicular size when taken for 8 weeks.
Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a lower level of neurotransmitter, called acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor has been used a main treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. A vitro study at Naresuan University, Thailand found that the extract of Butea superba roots showed the inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase enzyme lower by 50-65%.
Hair restoration: Proven to prevent hair loss and grey hair in Men.
Cancer fighting: Protection against cancers due to its high antioxidant effects.
In this study it is found that Butea Superba increase muscle mass and inhibit cAMP:
Effects of Butea superba Roxb. on Skeletal Muscle Functions and Parvalbumin Levels of Orchidectomized Rat Authors : Surapong Vongvatcharanon, Fardeela Binalee, Wandee Udomuksorn, Ekkasit Kumarnsit, Uraporn Vongvatcharanon Abstract : Hypogonadism is characterized by a decline in sex hormone levels, especially testosterone. It has been shown to be an important contributor to the decrease in muscle mass, muscle strength and performance, a condition known as sarcopenia. Preparations from Butea superba Roxb. (red Kwao Krua) have been reported to have androgenic properties. The active compounds are proposed to be flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides. Treatment with B. superba has been shown to improve erectile dysfunction in males. Parvalbumin (PV) is a relaxing factor and identified in fast twitch fibers. Alterations of the PV levels affects skeletal muscle functions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of orhchidectomy, testosterone replacement and different doses of Butea superba Roxb. on the structure, performance, levels of parvalbumin, parvalbumin and androgen receptor immunoreactivities in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and gastrocnemius muscles of orchidectomized rats. Twelve-week old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups; sham-operated (SHAM), orchidectomized (BS-0), orchidectomized group that was treated with testosterone replacement of 6 µg/kg (TP) or an orchidectomized group that was treated with various doses of an extract from Butea superba Roxb.; 5 mg/kg (BS-5), 50 mg/kg (BS-50) and 500 mg/kg (BS-500) all for 90 days. The testosterone level, epididymis, seminal vesicle, prostate gland, vas deference weight, muscle fiber size, strength and endurance in both the EDL and gastrocnemius muscle were decreased in the BS-0 group but increased in the testosterone replacement group. Treatment with the B. superba Roxb. extract replacement group improved muscle fiber size, strength and endurance, but not total testosterone levels, or the epididymis, seminal vesicle, prostate gland, vas deference weight. Furthermore, the parvalbumin level, parvalbumin and androgen receptor immunoreactivities were reduced in the BS-0 group but increased in the testosterone replacement group and the B. superba Roxb. extract groups for both the EDL and gastrocnemius muscle. This study indicated that the reduction of testosterone level led to a decrease of the androgen receptor density resulting in a decline in the muscle mass and parvalbumin levels. The decrease of parvalbumin levels affected muscle performance. Testosterone replacement increased the androgen receptor density and led to an increase of muscle mass and parvalbumin levels. The increase in the parvalbumin levels may result in an improvement of muscle performance. This may explain one mechanism of testosterone on muscle mass and strength in the testosterone dependent sarcopenia. The B. superba Roxb. extract groups also had improved muscle mass, strength and endurance, parvalbumin level, parvalbumin and androgen immunoreactivities compared to the BS-O group . Butea superba Roxb. Extracts contains a flavonoid (3, 7, 3'-Trihydroxy-- '-methoxyflavone), flavonoiglycoside (3, 3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) and isoflavanolignans (butesuperins A and butesuperins B) all known to inhibit the cAMP phosphodiesterase enzyme. Therefore, cAMP signaling may have adaptive effects on skeletal muscle by increasing muscle mass, strength and endurance.
Hope this helps