Wednesday Aug 20, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study in Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine suggests Phaleria macrocarpa (P. macrocarpa) fruits aqueous extract may be used to boost men's fertility by increasing the serum testosterone level.

In the study, adult male rats were supplemented through intragastric gavage with 240 mg/kg P. macrocarpa aqueous extract, placebo or 4 mg/kg testosterone for seven weeks.  After the seventh week of supplementation, each male rat was introduced to five female rats to allow mating.

P. macrocarpa aqueous extract drastically increased serum testosterone levels and mounting frequencies of male rats.  

The study concludes "P. macrocarpa showed potential value as an alternative for improving the sexual strength by increasing the level of testosterone and libido behavior. Thus, it is suggested that P. macrocarpa can improve the fertility in man."

The study was conducted by researchers at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences (YUMS) in Yasuj, Iran and University Putra Malaysia in Malaysia. (David Liu, PHD)

Parhizkar S, Zainudin CZ, Dollah MA.  Effect of Phaleria macrocarpa on sexual function of rats.  Avicenna J Phytomed. 2013 Fall;3(4):371-7.