Alrighty fellas, here's the ingredients and why we chose them.
Trans-Resveratrol:
This compound is like sliced bread to the supplement industry. There are many different health benefits to come from resveratrol, but we picked it up for one in particular. Resveratrol is capable of modulating estrogenic receptors as well as controlling aromatase, giving it that One Two Punch for estrogen control.[2][3] Research has shown its estrogenic modulation capabilities to increase sperm production by stimulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. [1]
Horny Goat Weed:
Horny Goat Weed (HWG) is a great source of the testosterone mimetic, Icariin. Research on Icariin has shown it to increase circulating testosterone levels as well as improve reproductive organs, making it a great therapeutic for hypoandrogenic states (like right after a steroids cycle). [4]
On top of the testosterone mimetic capabilities of icariin, it also has some very interesting metabolites. In vivo research has shown icariin to metabolize into icaritin and desmethylicaritin. [5] What's great about these guys is the fact that (like resveratrol) are very strong estrogenic receptor antagonists. [6][7]
6-beta-bromoandrostenedione:
You body is working too hard trying to get back your natural testosterone levels to have them be converted into more estrogen. 6-bromo is a strong aromatase inhibitor designed to keep your hard-earned testosterone intact as your HPTA continues to recooperate. It has a very strong selectivity for the aromatase enzyme.
There's an underground following for the use of formestane for post cycle therapy. I mean these people use it religiously. Formestane works great for increasing androgen levels because it not only prevents androgens from converting into estrogens, but significantly lowers the levels of oestradiol, a hormone that inhibits the release of gonadatropins.[8] There's one minor issue with formestane, though. It doesn't have a very good bioavailability and clears out out of the system too quickly with oral administration.[9]
We chose 6-beta-bromoandrostenedione(6b-bA). 6b-bA is a very selective and fast acting inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme. [10][11][12][13] User's have seen great results with lower dosages than oral formestane. Another goodie that comes from using a strong aromatase inhibitor is their capabilities to increase GH hormone release and sensitivity. [14]
Quercetin & Piperine:
Well we've got our pretty sick post cycle therapy stack going here, but there poses one small problem, and that's absorption and bioavailability. Icariin and Resveratrol do not have the greatest bioavailablity in all the land so we gave them a little help with Quercetin and Piperine. Quercetin is used because it is the most potent natural inbitor of estrone sulfanase which degrades compounds like resveratrol. [15] This makes not only aids in absorption, but enhances antiestrogenic activity. Piperine is another addition because it enhances the ability of your intestines to absorb nutrients and phytochemicals. [16] Additionally, piperine may also inhibit the glucuronidase enzyme, another enzyme which degrades resveratrol.[17]
References:
1.trans-Resveratrol, a natural antioxidant from grapes, increases sperm output in healthy rats. Juan ME, González-Pons E, Munuera T, Ballester J, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Planas JM. J Nutr. 2005 Apr;135(4):757-60
2.The red wine polyphenol resveratrol displays bilevel inhibition on aromatase in breast cancer cells. Wang Y, Lee KW, Chan FL, Chen S, Leung LK. Toxicol Sci. 2006 Jul;92(1):71-7. Epub 2006 Apr 11
3.Estrogenic and antiestrogenic properties of resveratrol in mammary tumor models.Bhat KP, Lantvit D, Christov K, Mehta RG, Moon RC, Pezzuto JM. Cancer Res. 2001 Oct 15;61(20):7456-63
4.The testosterone mimetic properties of icariin. Zhang ZB, Yang QT. Asian J Androl. 2006 Sep;8(5):601-5. Epub 2006 Jun 5.
5.Determination of rat urinary metabolites of icariin in vivo and estrogenic activities of its metabolites on MCF-7 cells.Liu J, Ye H, Lou Y. Pharmazie. 2005 Feb;60(2):120-5
6.Estrogenic effects of two derivatives of icariin on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.Ye HY, Lou YJ. Phytomedicine. 2005 Nov;12(10):735-41
7.Preparation of two derivatives from icariin and investigation of their estrogen-like effects.Ye HY, Liu J, Lou YJ.Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2005 Mar;34(2):131-6
8.Comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of unformulated and formulated 4-hydroxyandrostenedione taken orally by healthy men.Dowsett M, Lloyd P. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1990;27(1):67-71
9.Dose-related endocrine effects and pharmacokinetics of oral and intramuscular 4-hydroxyandrostenedione in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.Dowsett M, Cunningham DC, Stein RC, Evans S, Dehennin L, Hedley A, Coombes RC.Cancer Res. 1989 Mar 1;49(5):1306-12
10.Synthesis and biochemical properties of 6-bromoandrostenedione derivatives with a 2,2-dimethyl or 2-methyl group as aromatase inhibitors.Numazawa M, Handa W, Yamada K. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Nov;27(11):1878-82
11.Stereochemistry of the functional group determines the mechanism of aromatase inhibition by 6-bromoandrostenedione.Osawa Y, Osawa Y, Coon MJ. Endocrinology. 1987 Sep;121(3):1010-6
12.Estrogen synthesis in human breast tumor and its inhibition by testololactone and bromoandrostenedione.Dao TL.Cancer Res. 1982 Aug;42(8 Suppl):3338s-3341s
13.Inhibition of estrogen synthesis in human breast tumors by testololactone and bromoandrostenedione.Budnick RM, Dao TL.Steroids. 1980 May;35(5):533-41
14.The role of growth factor receptor pathways in human breast cancer cells adapted to long-term estrogen deprivation.Sabnis GJ, Jelovac D, Long B, Brodie A. Cancer Res. 2005 May 1;65(9):3903-10
15.Inhibition of estrone sulfatase in human liver microsomes by quercetin and other flavonoids.Huang Z, Fasco MJ, Kaminsky LS. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1997 Sep-Oct;63(1-3):9-15
16.Piperine modulates permeability characteristics of intestine by inducing alterations in membrane dynamics: influence on brush border membrane fluidity, ultrastructure and enzyme kinetics.Khajuria A, Thusu N, Zutshi U. Phytomedicine. 2002 Apr;9(3):224-31
17.Impairment of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and glucuronidation activities in liver and small intestine of rat and guinea pig in vitro by piperine.Reen RK, Jamwal DS, Taneja SC, Koul JL, Dubey RK, Wiebel FJ, Singh J. Biochem Pharmacol. 1993 Jul 20;46(2):229-38.