Akarkara

•Last Updated: November 17 2022

Anacyclus pyrethrum (Akarkara) is an aphrodisiac herb in Ayurveda that is said to enhance male vitality and virility in addition to being a brain tonic. Evidence is preliminary, but it seems to be a pro-fertility agent and testosterone boosting herb with some neuroprotective effects.

dosage

Akarkara is most often used for

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Kamal Patel, MPH, MBA

Last Updated: November 17 2022

summary
Dosage information
Research breakdown
References

Summary

Anacyclus pyrethrum is a pro-fertility and virility enhancing herb that is currently in preliminary testing in rodents. The main bioactives in this plant are the alkylamides (similar to Spilanthes Acmella and Maca), and preliminary evidence seems to confirm its traditional claims of fertility and libido enhancement as well as its role as a 'brain tonic' (since it appears to have anti-amnesiac and anti-convulsive effects).

What else is Akarkara known as?

Note that Akarkara is also known as:

Akarkara
Vajikaran Rasayana
Pellitory Root
Spanish Chamomile
Pyrethrin
Anacyclus Pyrethrum

Dosage information

Studies in rats use a range of 50-150 mg/kg bodyweight Anacyclus pyrethrum roots (DC) daily, with all tested extracts (ethanolic, petroleum ether, water) appearing to be effective. This results in an estimated human dosage range of:

550-1,600 mg daily for a 150 lb person
700-2,200 mg daily for a 200 lb person
900-2,700 mg daily for a 250 lb person

These are just estimates as to the effective range of the root extract in humans, since there is currently no human evidence to base recommendations on.

Research Breakdown

1

Source and Composition

1.1

Source

1.2

Composition

2

Neurology

2.1

Epilepsy

2.2

Memory and Cognition

3

Inflammation and Immunology

3.1

Macrophages

3.2

Lymphocytes

4

Interactions with Hormones

4.1

Testosterone

5

Interactions with Sexuality

5.1

Libido

6

Interactions with Organ Systems

6.1

Testicles

6.2

Prostate

7

Safety and Toxicology

7.1

General

References

1.^Sharma V, Boonen J, Spiegeleer BD, Dixit VKAndrogenic and Spermatogenic Activity of Alkylamide-Rich Ethanol Solution Extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum DCPhytother Res.(2012 Apr 4)

2.^Pahuja M, Mehla J, Reeta KH, Joshi S, Gupta YKRoot extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum ameliorates seizures, seizure-induced oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in experimental animalsEpilepsy Res.(2012 Feb)

3.^Bendjeddou D, Lalaoui K, Satta DImmunostimulating activity of the hot water-soluble polysaccharide extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum, Alpinia galanga and Citrullus colocynthisJ Ethnopharmacol.(2003 Oct)

4.^ANTICONVULSANT AND MYORELAXATION ACTIVITY OF ANACYCLUS PYRETHRUM DC. (AKARKARA) ROOT EXTRACT.()

5.^Isolation and Structure of an N-isoButyldienediynamide from Pellitory (Anacyclus pyrethrum DC.).()

6.^Boonen J, Sharma V, Dixit VK, Burvenich C, De Spiegeleer BLC-MS N-alkylamide profiling of an ethanolic Anacyclus pyrethrum root extractPlanta Med.(2012 Nov)

7.^Memory-enhancing activity of Anacyclus pyrethrum in albino Wistar rats.()

8.^Sharma V, Thakur M, Chauhan NS, Dixit VKImmunomodulatory activity of petroleum ether extract of Anacyclus pyrethrumPharm Biol.(2010 Nov)

9.^Sharma V, Boonen J, Chauhan NS, Thakur M, De Spiegeleer B, Dixit VKSpilanthes acmella ethanolic flower extract: LC-MS alkylamide profiling and its effects on sexual behavior in male ratsPhytomedicine.(2011 Oct 15)

10.^Evaluation of the Anabolic, Aphrodisiac and Reproductive Activity of Anacyclus Pyrethrum DC in Male Rats.()

11.^Sharma V, Thakur M, Chauhan NS, Dixit VKEffects of petroleum ether extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum DC. on sexual behavior in male ratsZhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao.(2010 Aug)

12.^Toxicological evaluation of ethanolic extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum in albino wistar rats.()

Primary Use

Secondary Use

Brain Health