Muira puama

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Muira puama (Marapuama, Potency Wood) is a traditionally used aphrodisiac and nerve tonic in the Brazil region. Lacking in quality human trials and sexuality trials, it appears to be quite effective as a cognitive enhancer.

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Muira puama is most often used for

What else is Muira puama known as?
Note that Muira puama is also known as:
  • Potency Wood
Muira puama should not be confused with:
Dosage information

The recommended oral dose of muira puama appears to be 1000-1500mg of a 4:1 concentrated extract (equivalent to 4,000-6,000mg of the basic extract). It is unsure if this is the optimal dose or whether it needs to be taken with a meal.

100-300mg/kg appears to be the active range for anti-stress and anxiolytic effects in rats, which converts to an estimated human equivalent of:

  • 1,100-3,300mg for a 150lb person
  • 1,500-4,400mg for a 200lb person
  • 1,800-5,500mg for a 250lb person

These are currently the recommended intakes as the higher end of the recommendation is similar to what is recommended to humans that appears to be effective.

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References
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2.^Tang W, Hioki H, Harada K, Kubo M, Fukuyama YClerodane diterpenoids with NGF-potentiating activity from Ptychopetalum olacoidesJ Nat Prod.(2008 Oct)
3.^Piato AL, Rizon LP, Martins BS, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EAntidepressant profile of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Marapuama) in micePhytother Res.(2009 Apr)
5.^Tang W, Harada K, Kubo M, Hioki H, Fukuyama YEight new clerodane diterpenoids from the bark of Ptychopetalum olacoidesNat Prod Commun.(2011 Mar)
6.^Tang W, Kubo M, Harada K, Hioki H, Fukuyama YNovel NGF-potentiating diterpenoids from a Brazilian medicinal plant, Ptychopetalum olacoidesBioorg Med Chem Lett.(2009 Feb 1)
7.^Piato AL, Detanico BC, Linck VM, Herrmann AP, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EAnti-stress effects of the "tonic"Ptychopetalum olacoides (Marapuama) in micePhytomedicine.(2010 Mar)
10.^Figueiró M, Ilha J, Linck VM, Herrmann AP, Nardin P, Menezes CB, Achaval M, Gonçalves CA, Porciúncula LO, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EThe Amazonian herbal Marapuama attenuates cognitive impairment and neuroglial degeneration in a mouse Alzheimer modelPhytomedicine.(2011 Feb 15)
11.^Figueiró M, Ilha J, Pochmann D, Porciúncula LO, Xavier LL, Achaval M, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EAcetylcholinesterase inhibition in cognition-relevant brain areas of mice treated with a nootropic Amazonian herbal (Marapuama)Phytomedicine.(2010 Oct)
12.^Siqueira IR, Fochesatto C, da Silva AL, Nunes DS, Battastini AM, Netto CA, Elisabetsky EPtychopetalum olacoides, a traditional Amazonian "nerve tonic", possesses anticholinesterase activityPharmacol Biochem Behav.(2003 Jun)
13.^Siqueira IR, Fochesatto C, Torres IL, da Silva AL, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky E, Netto CAAntioxidant activities of Ptychopetalum olacoides ("muirapuama") in mice brainPhytomedicine.(2007 Nov)
14.^da Silva AL, Silva Martins B, Linck Vde M, Herrmann AP, Mai N, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EMK801- and scopolamine-induced amnesias are reversed by an Amazonian herbal locally used as a "brain tonic"Psychopharmacology (Berl).(2009 Jan)
15.^da Silva AL, Ferreira JG, da Silva Martins B, Oliveira S, Mai N, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky ESerotonin receptors contribute to the promnesic effects of P. olacoides (Marapuama)Physiol Behav.(2008 Sep 3)
17.^da Silva AL, Piato AL, Ferreira JG, Martins BS, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EPromnesic effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides in aversive and non-aversive learning paradigmsJ Ethnopharmacol.(2007 Feb 12)
18.^da Silva AL, Piato AL, Bardini S, Netto CA, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EMemory retrieval improvement by Ptychopetalum olacoides in young and aging miceJ Ethnopharmacol.(2004 Dec)
19.^Duman CHModels of depressionVitam Horm.(2010)
20.^Piato AL, Detanico BC, Jesus JF, Lhullier FL, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EEffects of Marapuama in the chronic mild stress model: further indication of antidepressant propertiesJ Ethnopharmacol.(2008 Jul 23)
21.^da Silva AL, Bardini S, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EAnxiogenic properties of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. (Marapuama)Phytother Res.(2002 May)
22.^Pontieri V, Neto AS, de França Camargo AF, Koike MK, Velasco ITThe herbal drug Catuama reverts and prevents ventricular fibrillation in the isolated rabbit heartJ Electrocardiol.(2007 Nov-Dec)
24.^Antunes E, Gordo WM, de Oliveira JF, Teixeira CE, Hyslop S, De Nucci GThe relaxation of isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum by the herbal medicine Catuama and its constituentsPhytother Res.(2001 Aug)
25.^Campos MM, Fernandes ES, Ferreira J, Bortolanza LB, Santos AR, Calixto JBPharmacological and neurochemical evidence for antidepressant-like effects of the herbal product CatuamaPharmacol Biochem Behav.(2004 Aug)