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You are here: Home / Testosterone / Bulbine Natalensis for Testosterone

Bulbine Natalensis for Testosterone

August 16, 2016 By 4 Comments Last Updated: April 17, 2017

South African herb Bulbine Natalensis has a risky reputation, but seems to be emerging as a potential natural T-booster and masculinity enhancer.

Bulbine_natalensis2
By Michael Wolf (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Bulbine Natalensis’ popularity has just begun to take hold in the Western market, and along with rumors of benefits comes fact-proving research. The plant is believed by many to be an underestimated testosterone booster through its role in:

  • Supporting luteinizing hormone. LH is known to stimulate Leydig cells, which produce testosterone.
  • Increasing size of testes. The size of a testicle is correlated to its overall functionality and increased testosterone.
  • Raising sex drive. Research shows bulbine natalensis increased frequencies of male sex initiation, indicating raised sex hormones.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Overview
  • How Bulbine Natalensis Might Help With Boosting Testosterone
    • Bulbine Natalensis contains flavonoids to potentially increase testosterone levels
    • The presence of saponins may yield higher levels of androgens
  • Bulbine Natalensis Traditional & Popular Use
  • Research
    • Animal Research
    • Human Research
  • Dosage for Boosting Testosterone
  • Side Effects
  • Available Forms of Bulbine Natalensis
  • Supplements in Review Recommendation

Overview

Like many herbs, bulbine natalensis has a rich history of use. Its historical value begins with the South African Zulu people, who are known to have ingested the supposedly stimulating herb before battle in order to boost stamina or power. When not on the battlefield the natives would powder the stems of the plant and mix it with milk in order to enhance virility and libido.

But while history may vouch for the potential of this plant, it has not seen much research, and most data remains restricted to animal studies. On top of this, reports indicate the possibility of safety issues when taking bulbine natalensis as a regular supplement.

It is important to note that some scientists warn against consumption of bulbine natalensis due to a supposed negative effect on the liver and kidneys. When administered to mice over 14 days, one small study found distortion in liver lobules as well as malformations in the tubules of the kidney.1
The flowerhead of Bulbine is often a unique cone-shaped sprout. By James Steakley (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
The flowerhead of Bulbine Natalensis is often a unique, cone-shaped sprout. By James Steakley (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

How Bulbine Natalensis Might Help With Boosting Testosterone

It’s important to note these mechanisms of action are supported by animal research only, and are therefore speculative theories at best.

Bulbine Natalensis contains flavonoids to potentially increase testosterone levels

Flavonoids are aromatic compounds found in many plants such as blueberries and cocoa, however, they are often removed due to their bitter taste. Some research has suggested that certain varieties of flavonoids have the ability to chemically inhibit testosterone-metabolizing enzymes such as P450. A lack in reduction of testosterone, in theory, may prove to further boost androgen levels.2

The presence of saponins may yield higher levels of androgens

Saponins are phytochemicals found in differing amounts across the plantae kingdom, located in nearly every part of the plant. Bulbine Natalensis has been shown to contain detectable amounts of saponin, although it is often considered an effective antimicrobial.3 Recent research supports that a given dose of saponin has the potential to influence testosterone levels in an organism.4

A_Zulu_medicine_woman_or_shaman_practising_in_Basutoland,_So_Wellcome_V0015952
A Zulu medicine woman such as this picture would have utilized bulbine natalensis leaves to alleviate most epidermal maladies. By T. Lindsay Fairclough [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Bulbine Natalensis Traditional & Popular Use

The word for bulbine natalensis in the Zulu language is iBhucu, which roughly translates to “mixer.” This definition may reference their purpose of boiling the plant stems and applying it with other ingredients, or the intention may correlate with the actual bodily effects.

On its own, Bulbine Natalensis is legendary as a tribal sex tonic for men, believed to enhance desire, performance, and virility. In other traditional folk uses, the leaves are also crushed and applied to superficial burns to either reduce pain or ward off infection.

Today, Bulbine Natalensis is sold for many different purposes such as reducing body fat, fighting oxidants, and boosting testosterone. Many of the companies that control the market of bulbine supplementation are minor, unproven, and relatively untrustworthy.

Did you know? Recent reports in the herbal supplement industry reveal that a major manufacturer, Maypro, will soon begin to harvest and utilize bulbine natalensis for sale as a premium product. The significance of such a large corporation involving itself in such an uncommon plant displays its strong potential, as bad investments do not often spawn from a failure of in-house testing.

Research

Animal Research

Although no human research can be found for the herb’s benefits, animal studies are promising:

Bulbine (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) enhances sexual behavior with effects similar to Viagra in rats

This study fed 75 healthy male rats different amounts of bulbine natalensis along with a group of placebo and commercial Viagra in order to compare the effects of ingestion. The results were pulled from observation, mainly the differing reaction to receptive females such as mount frequency or ejaculatory frequency. Once visual recordings had finished, the blood was analyzed for changes in testosterone and luteinizing hormone. As seen in the data chart below, a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight severely reduces the effect of the supplement. This was explained by scientists to most likely be causing a comatose reaction in the rats and reduce their overall energy.

  • The researchers found that “The resultant significant and sustained increase in the male rat sexual behaviour parameters by the aqueous extract of Bulbine natalensis stem are indications of the plant’s sex-enhancing potentials.” Results specifically showed a major increase in all testing parameters, especially for the amount of 50 mg/kg body weight. A reduction in post-ejaculatory interval and an increase of serum hormone concentration can also be observed.5IJAN_910_f1

Bulbine (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) daily increases testosterone and testicular weight in male albino rats.

A group of 40 male rats were separated into 4 groups with different extract supplement amounts. A placebo was given to ten rats, while the amounts of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight was administered. Each were given a receptive female to copulate with, and the parameters of observation included testosterone-related factors including mating success, size of testes, and amount of testosterone within an isolated serum. The outcome displayed exactly what bulbine natalensis has been rumored to achieve.

  • Results of the study stated that “The current study revealed that B. natalensis extract at the doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight has the tendency of enhancing reproductive function in male rats” and that the causation for this increased libido can be suggested to be a resultant from the positive shift in tesosterone levels.6

Bulbine (50 mg/kg body weight) substantially increases testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in male albino rats.

The study used 60 male rats to observe the effects of a given placebo along with extracts of bulbine natalensis in 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight ratios. The period of consumption lasted to 14 days for most rats, although some were sacrificed before this to measure intermediate serum concentrations. Along with this, the size of the testes was compared and found to have been positively affected by the regular consumption of bulbine. The reason behind the increase in size is believed to be correlated with the increase of functionality of the testes. A slight increase of protein and glycogen were also recorded from the secretion of the testes.

  • It was summarized that “The increase in testes–body weight ratio…concentrations of testosterone, follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones as well as other secretory metabolites of the testes indicates anabolizing and androgenic activities of B. natalensis stem.” Conclusively-dense resolutions are rare when it comes to a controversial ingredient, but data as clear as the graph below is unmistakably undeniable.7Screenshot (17)

Human Research

As of now, no human trials have been performed for bulbine natalensis in a research setting. All proposed effects of the herb are sourced from its rich history, consumer review, chemical makeup, and research in biologically related organisms such as mice and rats.

Did you know? Bulbine natalensis has displayed scientific evidence for acting as a natural antimicrobial against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria alike. Depending on the bacteria, it even outperformed ethanol!

Dosage for Boosting Testosterone

  • Most research points to 50 mg/kg body weight as the most effective ratio. This equates to approximately 4 g for a 180 lb. adult and 5 g for a 220 lb. adult.
  • Most supplements available for purchase only contain 350-370 mg per pill.
  • While consuming too much bulbine natalensis in one dose has yet to show dangerous effects, it should be noted that sex drives are heavily reduced with too much bulbine natalensis as the herb may act as a sedative.

Side Effects

Animal research shows few side effects; however, there is the potential alteration of liver and kidney lobules and tubules in which these regions are important for basic bodily processes such as glycolysis and lipogenesis. Other side effects were shown to be an increase in white blood cell count, and with high supplement-body ratios an effect similar to sedatives was observed. Moreover, one human trial of bulbine natalensis deemed an extract form (325 mg) safe.8

Available Forms of Bulbine Natalensis

At the moment, the online market for bulbine natalensis rests in the purchasing of the plant seedlings or the seeds themselves. This is most likely due to the relative rarity of the plant’s industrial cultivation, and so large home-and-garden chains often have bulbine available, but not in the most optimal form for the everyday consumer.

  • Powdered and stacked. Muscle-building forums seem to have “adopted” bulbine natalensis extract into some of their products that are included with other supplements, known as stacking. However, only about 30 mg per 1 g of serving size is actual bulbine natalensis extract.
  • Capsuled Extract. Online markets sell pure bulbine natalensis in a 5:1 ratio included in herbal capsules. The doses for these products range around 350 mg.
  • Flower Form. Just as it sounds, listings online advertise shipping bulbine natalensis flowers for your own personal use. With further research, consumers could utilize dried plant material in different consumable forms.

Supplements in Review Recommendation

  • Bulbine Natalensis, 350 mg serving for boosting testosterone, in capsuled extract form.

Animal research just isn’t enough. We think that bulbine natalensis has a lot of potential due to a long history of legendary use, but the lack of human trial forces the recommended dose to a “tried and true” amount until more research is completed. An overdose has been shown to only have sedative effects, but the mice involved were not studied for more than a month. In time perhaps it will be less of a risk to overconsume this supplement.

Capsuled and in low doses may be enough for observing a boost in testosterone. However, until more research proves bulbine’s safety in humans, we have a hard time recommending this exotic herb as a T-Booster. There are far better testosterone enhancers on the market.

Show 8 footnotes

  1.  Afolayan et al. Effect of Bulbine Natalensis Baker Stem Extract on the Functional Indices and Histology of the Liver and Kidney of Male Wistar Rats. Journal of Medicinal Food 12.4 (2009): 814-20. ↩
  2.  Dai et al. Differential Effects of Flavonoids on Testosterone-metabolizing Cytochrome P450s. Life Sciences 61.7 (1997): n. pag. ↩
  3.  Kibiti et al. Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Biological Activities Of Bulbine Abyssinica Used in the Folk Medicine in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2015 (2015): 1-12. ↩
  4.  Liu et al. Effects of Total Soy Saponins on Free Radicals in the Quadriceps Femoris, Serum Testosterone, LDH, and BUN of Exhausted Rats. Journal of Sport and Health Science (2016): n. pag. ↩
  5.  Yakubu, M. T. et al. Effect of Aqueous Extract of Bulbine Natalensis (Baker) Stem on the Sexual Behaviour of Male Rats. International Journal of Andrology 32.6 (2009): 629-36. ↩
  6.  Yakubu, M. T. et al. Reproductive Toxicologic Evaluations of Bulbine Natalensis Baker Stem Extract in Albino Rats. Theriogenology 72.3 (2009): 322-32. ↩
  7.  Yakubu et al. Anabolic and Androgenic Activities of Bulbine Natalensis Stem in Male Wistar Rats. Pharmaceutical Biology 48.5 (2010): 568-76. ↩
  8.  Hofheins et al. Short Term Safety of Bulbine Natalensis Supplementation in Healthy Men. J Int Soc Sports Nutr Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 9.Suppl 1 (2012): n. pag. ↩

Filed Under: Testosterone

Comments

  1. andreas says

    May 17, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    I use bulbine by gn. 1.2 grams in total on 2 doses aufteitl. Each ca 600 gr. One in the morning one evening Can this dose be dangerous for the kidneys?

  2. Gleb says

    May 18, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    It’s tough to say because there aren’t any human studies on its safety. All the info we have right now is that doses of 50 mg/kg of body weight or higher over 14 days can be bad for the kidneys in rats. Best to discuss it with a doctor.

  3. Ambrogio Zanaboni says

    May 9, 2018 at 1:16 pm

    The dose of rats must be converted into the equivalent dose for humans !!!!!!!!!

    Conversion factor 0.162

    rat dose 25 mg/kg = human dose ( 25 x 0.162) = 4.05 mg/kg

    for an adult of 80 kg ( 180 lb ) = 324 mg of products

  4. George P DELVECCHIO says

    November 1, 2018 at 7:09 pm

    I have a plant and I would like eat the raw plant in bits and pieces but I don’t know how much to consume.

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