| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Weight One human study found that a combination herbal preparation containing damiana (with yerba mate and guarana) delayed gastric emptying and promoted weight loss in overweight patients. Effects cannot be attributed to damiana alone due to the multi-ingredient formulation. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | 47 people | ||
Supplement
Damiana is a leafy shrub from Central and South America that contains apigenin, a plant compound known to act on the brain's calming GABA-A receptors. Human research is very limited: one study found a blend of damiana, yerba mate and guarana delayed stomach emptying and led to weight loss in overweight people, though damiana alone can't be credited. Everything else, like more sexual behavior in tired rats, comes from animal or lab work.
Sources: PMID 11424516
- Updated
- How we grade
- 5 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 0004
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual Function Two rodent studies found increased sexual behavior in sexually sluggish or fatigued rats, but no effect in normal animals. This suggests an adaptogenic rather than specific aphrodisiac mechanism. No human clinical trials exist for this claim. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured sexual function | ||||||
| Aromatase Inhibition In vitro evidence suggests damiana extracts may inhibit aromatase activity, which could theoretically affect estrogen-to-testosterone ratios. Relevance to oral consumption in humans is unconfirmed, with no in vivo studies available. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured aromatase inhibition | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Damiana contains apigenin, a flavonoid with known GABA-A receptor binding activity. Limited animal studies suggest anxiolytic effects, though these may be attributable to apigenin content rather than damiana-specific compounds. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Key findings
- Sexual FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
- AnxietyImproves (the measure goes down)
- Aromatase InhibitionChanges; see studies
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- Grade D
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Studies cited
5 studies from PubMed
- Aromatase inhibitors from Turnera diffusa
- Estimation of Apigenin, an Anxiolytic Constituent, in Turnera aphrodisiaca.
- Pharmacognostic standardization of Turnera aphrodisiaca Ward.
- Anxiolytic effects of Turnera diffusa in rats
- Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients.