1.
Source and Composition
1.1
General
Trichopus zeylanicus (of the family Trichopodaceae) is a herb from the areas of India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. It has been used historically by the Kani tribe in India (whom call it Arogyappacha), which uses this plant for its purported anti-fatigue effects.[1][2] It appears to possess adaptogenic properties, and may be considered an adaptogen.[1] Trichopus Zeylanicus also has been referred to as a Ginseng compound before (although not belonging to the Panax Ginseng family) and is referred to as the Ginseng of Kerala (or Kerala Ginseng).[3]
Claims from the Kani tribe in regards to this herb state that the berries (bioactive portion) can gain enough energy to go days without food, and 1-2 berries can preserve youth, vitality, and prevent decline of the body.[4][1]
2.
Exercise and Performance
2.1
Physical Performance
In mouse tests (young and old), 250-500mg/kg Trichopus zeylanicus added to the feed was able to improve physical performance.[6] Similar effects have been seen in mice with doses ranging from 12.5-100mg/kg bodyweight of the ethanolic extract of the plant, where Trichopus at 12.5mg/kg bodyweight was roughly as effective as 125mg/kg bodyweight Ashwagandha, and doses ranging from 25-100mg/kg bodyweight were significantly more effective than Ashwagandha in preventing the decline in motor control and attenuating a rise in fatigue after exhaustive swimming (with subsequent physical testing immediately after).[1] When assessing physical performance in the aforementioned swim task (swimming until fatigue), Trichopus Zeylanicus was able to increase swim time by 40.33% (12.5%) to 103.47% (100mg/kg) whereas Ashwagandha at 125mg/kg was only able to increase time to fatigue by 38.85%.[1]
The mechanism of action by which it increases performance seems to be independent of adrenaline-mediated mechanisms.[6] The effects seen may be secondary to anxiolysis (reducing anxiety) and the adaptogenic effects.[1]
Preliminary evidence suggests it is a potent performance enhancer, although whether this is inherent increases in performance or just secondary to a reduction in anxiety in the test animals is not known. It appears to be more potent than Ashwagandha, which is relatively impressive
3.
Intestinal Interactions
One study in mice using charcoal as a fecal marker noted that Trichopus Zeylanicus may reduce gastrointestinal motility (the speed of bowel evacuation).[7]
4.
Oxidation
Trichopus Zeylanicus has been implicated in being able to exert anti-oxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation, and anti-lipoxygenase effects and protect DNA from oxidation by reactive oxygen species.[5][8] The anti-oxidant effects are outperformed by an equal dose of Ganoderma Lucidum while Trichopus Zeylanicus possesses more anti-lipid peroxidative effects.[5]
5.
Inflammation
Trichopus Zeylanicus is able to reduce inflammation as measured by edema after carrageenan injection, and was not significantly different than Ashwagandha in this regard.[1]
6.
Neurology
6.1
Anxiety and Stress
Trichopus Zeylanicus is touted as an adaptogenic compound able to reduce stress.
One study conducted in mice measuring both inflammation (as a response to exercise) and gastric ulceration (as a response to stress) noted significant attenuation when Trichopus Zeylanicus was fed at 12.5-100mg/kg bodyweight ethanolic extract; reducing 100% ulceration rates in the control group to 82.04% (12.5mg/kg) to 41.95% (100mg/kg) with dose-dependent effects.[1] These effects were slightly more potent on a per weight basis relative 125mg/kg bodyweight Ashwagandha used as an active control, which suppressed levels to 59.26% of control.[1] Trichopus was also able to dose-dependently reduce rectal hypothermia, a biomarker of stress, and all doses were slightly more effective than Ashwagandha.[1]
6.2
Aphrodisia
Trichopus Zeylanicus appears to have aphrodisiac properties in male mice through a fat soluble component at 200mg/kg bodyweight.[9]
References
- ^Singh B, Gupta DK, Chandan BKAdaptogenic activity of a glyco-peptido-lipid fraction from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus GaertnPhytomedicine.(2001 Jul)
- ^Singh B, Chandan BK, Sharma N, Singh S, Khajuria A, Gupta DKAdaptogenic activity of glyco-peptido-lipid fraction from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaerten (part II)Phytomedicine.(2005 Jun)
- ^Sharma AK, Pushpangadan P, Chopra CL, Rajasekharan S, Amma LSAdaptogenic activity of seeds of trichopus zeylanicus gaertn, the ginseng of keralaAnc Sci Life.(1989 Jan)
- ^‘AROGYAPPACHA’ (TRICHOPUS ZEYLANICUS gaerin), THE ‘GINSENG’ OF KANI TRIBES OF AGASHYAR HILLS (KERALA) FOR EVER GREEN HEALH AND VITALITY
- ^Tharakan B, Dhanasekaran M, Manyam BVAntioxidant and DNA protecting properties of anti-fatigue herb Trichopus zeylanicusPhytother Res.(2005 Aug)
- ^Tharakan B, Dhanasekaran M, Brown-Borg HM, Manyam BVTrichopus zeylanicus combats fatigue without amphetamine-mimetic activityPhytother Res.(2006 Mar)
- ^Pushpangadan P, Rajasekharan S, Subramaniam A, Latha PG, Evans DA, Raj RVFurther on the pharmacology of trichopus zeylanicusAnc Sci Life.(1995 Jan)
- ^Cherian E, Sudheesh NP, Janardhanan KK, Patani GFree-radical scavenging and mitochondrial antioxidant activities of Reishi-Ganoderma lucidum (Curt: Fr) P. Karst and Arogyapacha-Trichopus zeylanicus Gaertn extractsJ Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol.(2009)
- ^Subramoniam A, Madhavachandran V, Rajasekharan S, Pushpangadan PAphrodisiac property of Trichopus zeylanicus extract in male miceJ Ethnopharmacol.(1997 Jun)