Butea superba | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Genus: | Butea |
Species: | B. superba |
Binomial name | |
Butea superba Roxb. |
Butea superba is an herb native to Thailand, thought by locals to be an aphrodisiac. It is abundantly distributed in the Thai deciduous forest and has been popular among Thai males for its supposed effects on rejuvenation and sexual vigor.[1] No placebo-controlled clinical studies exist so far to support aphrodisiac activity. In toxicity experiments with rats, the application of high doses of dried plant material (equivalent to the consumption of 12 to 16 gram daily by an adult man)had a negative impact on several blood parameters and decreased testosterone but not LH levels. These adverse effects were dose-dependent and not reported with lesser applied quantities. [2]
The tuberous roots of Butea superba were found to contain flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides as well as sterol compounds, including β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol.[3]