Eurycoma longifolia: Medicinal Plant in the Prevention and Treatment of Male Osteoporosis due to Androgen Deficiency

Effendy, Nadia Mohd; Mohamed, Norazlina; Muhammad, Norliza; Mohamad, Isa Naina; Shuid, Ahmad Nazrun

https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/125761

Abstract

Osteoporosis in elderly men is now becoming an alarming health issue due to its relation with a higher mortality rate compared to osteoporosis in women. Androgen deficiency (hypogonadism) is one of the major factors of male osteoporosis and it can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, one medicinal plant, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (EL), can be used as an alternative treatment to prevent and treat male osteoporosis without causing the side effects associated with TRT. EL exerts proandrogenic effects that enhance testosterone level, as well as stimulate osteoblast proliferation and osteoclast apoptosis. This will maintain bone remodelling activity and reduce bone loss. Phytochemical components of EL may also prevent osteoporosis via its antioxidative property. Hence, EL has the potential as a complementary treatment for male osteoporosis.

References:

Bedir E, Abou-Gazar H, Ngwendson J N, Khan I A. Eurycomaoside: a new quassinoid-type glycoside from the roots of Eurycoma longifolia . Chem Pharm Bull. 2003; 51 1301-3 Lewington A., Medicinal Plants and Plant Extracts: A Review of Their Importation into Europe, 1993, Traffic International, Cambridge, UK.

Burkill I. H., A Dictionary of Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula, 1966, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operative, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Woods P. W., Herbal healing, Essence. (1999) 30, 42–46.

WHO, Drug Information. Herbal Medicines, 2002, 16, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Elvin-Lewis M., Should we be concerned about herbal remedies, Journal of Ethnopharmacology. (2001) 75, no. 2-3, 141–164, 2-s2.0-0035048657, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00394-9.

Arthur H. R., A phytochemical survey of some plants of North Borneo, The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. (1954) 6, no. 1, 66–72, 2-s2.0-0006011101.

Douglas B. and Kiang A. K., A phytochemical survey of Malaya, Malayan Pharmaceutical Journal. (1957) 6, 1–16.

Chan K. C., Mak K. F., and Teo L. E., A new phytochemical survey of Malaya. IV. Chemical screening, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. (1977) 25, 1826–1829.

Herbal Medicine Research Group, Compendium of Medicinal Plants Used in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2002, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ismail A. R. N., Marketing of medicinal plants using landscape architectural design, Proceedings of the Conference on Forestry and Forest Product Research, Medicinal Plants: Quality Herbal Products for Healthy Living (CFFPR'99), 1999, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 19–25.

National policy on traditional medicine and regulation of herbal medicines, Report of a WHO Global Survey, 2005, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Ahmad S. H., Wonder Molecules From Nature and Laboratory, 2010, 1st edition, University Publication Centre, Malaysia.

Bhat R. and Karim A. A., Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): a review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance, Fitoterapia. (2010) 81, no. 7, 669–679, 2-s2.0-77956704752, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2010.04.006.

Zakaria M. and Mohd M. A., Traditional Malay Medicinal Plants, 1994, 8, Penerbit Fajar Bakti, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Zakaria Z. A., Patahuddin H., Mohamad A. S., Israf D. A., and Sulaiman M. R., In vivo anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Piper sarmentosum, Journal of Ethnopharmacology. (2010) 128, no. 1, 42–48, 2-s2.0-76749088894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.12.021.

Medicinal Plants, International Technology Center, United Nations International Development Organisation, UNIDO, Trieste, Italy.

Kamarudin M. S. and Latiff A., Tumbuhan Ubatan Malaysia, 2002, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, Malaysia.

Herbal Medicine Research Group, Compendium of Medicinal Plants Used in Malaysia, 2002, 2, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Goreja W. G., Tongkat Ali: The Tree that Cures a Hundred Diseases, 2004, 2, Amazing Herb Press, New York, NY, USA.

Goh S. H., Chuah C. H., Mok J. S. L., and Soepadmo E., Malaysian Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease, 1995, Pelanduk Publication, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.