Research suggests that Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) has a reasonably consistent body of support for its role in libido and sexual function, drawing on a mix of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and mechanistic studies that collectively point in a supportive direction. Studies indicate improvements in erectile function scores, testosterone levels, and self-reported sexual and mood outcomes across several populations, including middle-aged men with androgen deficiency and perimenopausal women, with one 2025 mechanistic study proposing that the active compound eurycomanone may stimulate dopamine release as a possible explanation for its aphrodisiac properties. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis found statistically significant increases in total testosterone in men taking the supplement as a standalone intervention, and a 2015 meta-analysis noted particular benefit for erectile function in men with lower baseline scores, though the broader 2024 systematic review on testosterone boosters tempered expectations by noting that most such supplements fail to meaningfully raise testosterone and that Tongkat Ali was among only a small number showing any credible signal. Limitations across this body of research include relatively small sample sizes, short study durations, variability in extract standardization, and an overall call from multiple authors for larger and more rigorously designed trials before firm clinical conclusions can be drawn.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phytoandrogenic properties of Eurycoma longifolia as natural alternative to t... | Review | 2014 | Supports | 92 |
| A 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to evaluate the... | RCT | 2021 | Supports | 90 |
| Efficacy of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) on erectile function improvemen... | Meta-analysis | 2015 | Supports | 88 |
| Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in mode... | Other | 2013 | Supports | 88 |
| Stimulatory effect of eurycomanone from Eurycoma longifolia Jack roots on dop... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 85 |
| Effect of Eurycoma longifolia water extract (Physta(®)) on menopausal quality... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 85 |
| Pharmacology of Herbal Sexual Enhancers: A Review of Psychiatric and Neurolog... | Review | 2020 | Supports | 82 |
| Asian herbals and aphrodisiacs used for managing ED. | Review | 2017 | Supports | 80 |
| A Multifaceted Review of Eurycoma longifolia Nutraceutical Bioactives: Produc... | Review | 2023 | Supports | 78 |
| Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): a review on its ethnobotany and pharm... | Review | 2010 | Supports | 78 |
| Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack standardised water extract (Physta) on we... | RCT | 2023 | Supports | 75 |
| An Analysis of Popular Online Erectile Dysfunction Supplements. | Systematic review | 2019 | Supports | 72 |
| Do "testosterone boosters" really increase serum total testosterone? A system... | Systematic review | 2024 | Supports | 70 |
| Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A System... | Systematic review | 2022 | Supports | 68 |