Turnera diffusa herb for better sex
Turnera diffusa is used as an herbal aphrodisiac.
Anti aromatase activity of damiana herb
Anti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa).
J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Dec 8; Zhao J, Dasmahapatra AK, Khan SI, Khan
IA. Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi,
University, MS 38677, United States.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. Ex Schult) has traditionally been used as an
herbal aphrodisiac. The study was aimed to investigate the anti-aromatse
activity and the estrogenic activity of the constituents isolated from Turnera
diffusa. The methanolic extract and 24 compounds isolated from the leaves of
Turnera diffusa were evaluated for aromatase activity by using a tritiated-water
release assay and for estrogenic activity. The methanolic extract demonstrated a
dose-dependent inhibitory activity of the aromatase enzyme. Among the 24 tested
compounds, pinocembrin and acacetin showed the most potent inhibition.
Estrogenic activity was also observed in the extract and three compounds
including apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin and pinocembrin. The extract of
Turnera diffusa and two isolated compounds pinocembrin and acacetin could
significantly suppress aromatase activity. Moreover, apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin
and pinocembrin showed estrogenic activity.
Brazilian plants as possible adaptogens: an
ethnopharmacological survey of books edited in Brazil.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Feb 12; Mendes FR, Carlini EA. Cebrid,
Department of Psychobiology at UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
In a survey, from Brazilian books, we searched plants that are in
popular use for purposes resembling those of an adaptogen. This study focused on
24 books by authors from diverse regions in the country, resulting in a total of
1317 citations of uses related to a possible adaptogen effect from approximately
766 plants. Only species native to Brazil, cited in at least four books, were
selected, resulting a total of 33 species, belonging to 24 families. Of these,
four species have been studied previously in relation to effects that are
considered as part of an adaptogen effect (anti-stress, memory enhancement,
increased physical and/or sexual performance): Heteropterys aphrodisiaca (Malpighiaceae),
Paullinia cupana (Sapindaceae), Ptychopetalum olacoides (Olacaceae), and Turnera
diffusa (Turneraceae). Three others-- Pfaffia glomerata, Pfaffia paniculata (Amaranthaceae),
and Trichilia catigua (Meliaceae)--have also been the object of pharmacological
studies that support their use as a possible adaptogen, but they are listed in
less than four books.