Immunomodulation in Middle-Aged Humans Via the Ingestion of Physta® Standardized Root Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Study

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 627 - 635
• Main Authors: George, Annie, Suzuki, Naoko, Abas, Azreena Binti, Mohri, Kiminori, Utsuyama, Masanori, Hirokawa, Katsuiku, Takara, Tsuyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; comprehensive immunity; Double-Blind Method; Eurycoma - chemistry; eurycomanone; Female; Humans; Immune System - drug effects; Immunomodulation; Male; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plant Roots - chemistry; Scoring of Immunological Vigor; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Tongkat Ali; Water - chemistry; Scoring of Immunological Vigor; comprehensive immunity; eurycomanone; Tongkat Ali
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5571

This study was aimed to investigate the capacity of a standardized root water extract of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali, TA), Physta® to modulate human immunity in a middle‐aged Japanese population. This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel study was conducted for 4 weeks. Eighty‐four of 126 subjects had relatively lower scores according to Scoring of Immunological Vigor (SIV) screening. Subjects were instructed to ingest either 200 mg/day of TA or rice powder as a placebo for 4 weeks [TA and Placebo (P) groups] and to visit a clinic in Tokyo twice (weeks 0 and 4). SIV, immunological grade, immunological age, and other immune parameters were measured. Eighty‐three subjects completed the study; 40 in the TA group and 41 in the P group were statistically analyzed, whereas two were excluded from the analyses. At week 4, the SIV and immunological grade were significantly higher in the TA group than those in P group (p < 0.05). The numbers of total, naïve, and CD4+ T cells were also higher in the TA group than those in P group (p < 0.05). No severe adverse events were observed. The results suggest that ingestion of the root water extract of TA (Physta®) enhances comprehensive immunity in both middle‐aged men and women. This study is registered in UMIN‐CTR (UMIN000011753). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.