Supplement
Hibiscus macranthus is a flowering plant from West and Central Africa, used in traditional medicine, whose leaf and stem extracts have been studied for effects on male reproductive hormones. Research has centered on testosterone, and rat studies found that a blend with Basella alba raised testosterone levels and increased sperm production in the testes. The evidence is very limited, though: it comes almost entirely from animal and lab work, and no human trials were found.
Sources: PMID 16281090; PMID 16372129; PMID 10465653
- Updated
- How we grade
- 3 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 0
- Outcomes
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 0002
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone In a rat study, the combination of H. macranthus and Basella alba aqueous extracts increased serum testosterone by 80% after 15 days (Moundipa et al., 1999). An in vitro testes slice study confirmed testosterone increases (34-60%) with the combination mixture (Moundipa et al., 2006). However, when tested alone on isolated Leydig cells, H. macranthus showed no androgenic effect and inhibited testosterone at higher concentrations, while Basella alba was the active androgenic component (Moundipa et al., 2005). The testosterone-boosting effect may be attributable to Basella alba rather than H. macranthus itself. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
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| Spermatogenesis In one rat study, oral administration of the combined H. macranthus and Basella alba aqueous extract produced abundant spermatozoa in seminiferous tubule lumens from day 7, increased seminal vesicle weights after 15 days, and elevated prostatic acid phosphatase activity, suggesting anabolizing and virilizing effects (Moundipa et al., 1999). The contribution of H. macranthus specifically cannot be isolated from this combination study. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured spermatogenesis | ||||||
Key findings
- TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)
- SpermatogenesisImproves (the measure goes up)
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- Grade D
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Studies cited
3 studies from PubMed
- Effects of extracts from Hibiscus macranthus and Basella alba mixture on testosterone production in vitro in adult rat testes slices
- Effects of Basella alba and Hibiscus macranthus extracts on testosterone production of adult rat and bull Leydig cells
- Effects of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus macranthus and Basella alba in mature rat testis function