Libido

N-Ethyl Tadalafil

N-Ethyl Tadalafil is a designer analog of tadalafil, the long-acting PDE5 inhibitor behind Cialis, built by modifying the original molecule. It is presumed to share tadalafil's ability to relax blood vessels and support erections, and it turns up most often as an undeclared ingredient in sexual-enhancement supplements. Because the analog itself has not been formally tested, it is best understood through the well-established pharmacology of its parent drug rather than through direct evidence.

N-Isopropyl Tadalafil

N-Isopropyl Tadalafil is a designer analog of tadalafil, the long-acting PDE5 inhibitor sold as Cialis, differing only by a small change to one part of the molecule. Like its parent, it is presumed to relax blood vessels and enhance erections, and it has been identified as an undeclared ingredient hidden inside sexual-performance supplements. Since the analog has never been formally tested, its profile is inferred from tadalafil rather than from any dedicated clinical evidence.

SARM

AC-262536

AC-262536, also written AC-262,536, is a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) first characterized by Acadia Pharmaceuticals. It acts as a partial agonist of the androgen receptor and was studied preclinically for its tissue-selective anabolic profile, producing muscle-building effects while showing comparatively weak activity on reproductive tissue such as the prostate.

Arginine

Arginine, or L-arginine, is a conditionally essential amino acid that the body uses to build proteins and, importantly, as the raw material for making nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels. It also plays central roles in the urea cycle that clears ammonia and in the production of creatine. Healthy adults usually make enough arginine, but needs can rise during growth, illness, or injury; it is obtained from protein-rich foods and taken as a supplement for cardiovascular and exercise-related purposes.

Boron

Boron is a metalloid (atomic number 5) that occurs naturally as borate minerals and boric acid and is regarded in humans as a beneficial trace element rather than a formally essential nutrient. Controlled depletion and supplementation studies indicate that modest intakes, on the order of 3 mg per day, influence mineral and steroid metabolism; boron supplementation has been shown to reduce urinary calcium and magnesium loss and to raise serum concentrations of 17-beta-estradiol and testosterone, effects that are more pronounced under low-magnesium conditions. A notable short-term human study reported that boron lowered sex hormone-binding globulin and inflammatory markers while increasing free testosterone within a week, and it is obtained from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pulses or taken as supplements such as sodium borate and calcium fructoborate. Borate compounds have relatively low mammalian toxicity, though intake is bounded by recommended upper limits.

D-Aspartic Acid

D-aspartic acid is the D-enantiomer of aspartic acid and one of the few D-amino acids found naturally in mammals, concentrating in neuroendocrine tissues such as the brain, pituitary, and testes. Mechanistic work indicates that it participates in the release and synthesis of luteinizing hormone and testosterone, acting in the pituitary through cyclic GMP and in testicular Leydig cells by upregulating the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and modulating luteinizing hormone receptor trafficking, in concert with NMDA-receptor-mediated stimulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Despite this plausible endocrine role, controlled human trials tell a more sobering story; supplementation in resistance-trained men generally failed to raise testosterone, and a higher 6 g daily dose actually lowered total and free testosterone. It is therefore best characterized as a physiologically active amino acid whose marketed ergogenic and testosterone-boosting claims are not supported in trained populations.

Nootropic

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an endogenous androstane neurosteroid and the most abundant circulating steroid hormone in humans, secreted chiefly by the adrenal cortex and also synthesized de novo within the central nervous system. It functions primarily as a precursor to androgens and estrogens, yet exerts direct actions on the brain by acting as an agonist at the sigma-1 receptor (an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone protein that shapes calcium and neurotrophic signaling), as a positive modulator of NMDA receptor (the principal excitatory glutamate ion channel involved in learning) signaling, and, chiefly as its sulfate ester DHEAS, as a negative allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor (the brain's main inhibitory ion channel). DHEA additionally behaves as a functional anti-glucocorticoid, buffering the neurotoxic effects of cortisol, and shows neuroprotective and mood-related activity in preclinical and clinical studies. Circulating concentrations peak in early adulthood and decline markedly with age, a phenomenon termed adrenopause that has driven its widespread use as an over-the-counter supplement.

Fadogia Agrestis

Fadogia agrestis is a shrub in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) native to West Africa, where its stem has a traditional reputation as an aphrodisiac. It has become popular as a dietary supplement marketed for raising testosterone and libido. The evidence behind those claims comes almost entirely from animal studies, and its safety in humans has not been established.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual legume whose aromatic seeds and leaves are used worldwide as a spice and in traditional medicine. Its seeds, which carry a maple-like aroma, are taken as a dietary supplement marketed for blood sugar, cholesterol, testosterone and milk production in nursing mothers. High-quality clinical evidence for most of these uses is still limited.

Peptide

Kisspeptin

Kisspeptin is a reproductive neuropeptide that sits at the very top of the hormonal axis controlling fertility, acting as the master switch that tells the brain to release gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) [1]. Discovered first as a cancer metastasis suppressor and later found to be essential for puberty, it has emerged as a versatile clinical tool: administered to people, kisspeptin enhances sexual and emotional brain processing, shows promise for low sexual desire, and can safely trigger egg maturation in IVF [1][2][5][6]. Its dual role in both the reproductive hormone cascade and the limbic brain makes it one of the most intriguing peptides in modern endocrinology [2][4].

4 outlets

Maca

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is an edible plant of the mustard family, Brassicaceae, native to the high Andes of Peru. Its starchy root, or hypocotyl, has been eaten and used as a traditional remedy for centuries and is now sold worldwide as a powder or extract. It is best known for claims around libido, sexual function, and energy, although the clinical evidence is modest and mixed.

Dopaminergic

Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna pruriens, commonly called velvet bean or cowhage, is a tropical climbing legume of the family Fabaceae whose seeds are a rich natural source of levodopa (L-DOPA), the precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Long used in Ayurvedic medicine, its seed extracts are marketed as dietary supplements and have been studied as a plant-based option in Parkinson disease. The plant is also notorious for the fine hairs on its pods, which cause intense itching on contact with skin.

Peptide

PT-141

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a first-in-class libido peptide that works in the brain rather than the bloodstream, activating melanocortin pathways to spark sexual desire and arousal in both women and men [1][2]. Unlike erectile-focused drugs that act on blood vessels, it targets the central circuits of desire, and it is the active ingredient in Vyleesi, approved by the FDA in 2019 for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women [2][3]. A synthetic analog of the hormone alpha-MSH, PT-141 is prized as the rare desire-boosting agent backed by large randomized clinical trials [3][4].

6 outlets

SARM

RAD-150

RAD-150 (TLB-150 Benzoate) is a research chemical marketed as an ester form of the popular SARM RAD-140 (Testolone), promoted for building muscle and strength with a potentially longer-acting profile [1]. Like other selective androgen receptor modulators, it is intended to stimulate the androgen receptor in muscle and bone, but RAD-150 itself has no published pharmacological or clinical studies, so its profile is inferred from RAD-140 and the broader SARM class [1]. It is an unapproved, WADA-banned research chemical, and the RAD-140 family it is based on has been linked in case reports to serious cardiovascular harm [1][2][3].

Shilajit

Shilajit is a blackish-brown, tar-like exudate that seeps from rocks in high mountain ranges and is composed largely of humic substances such as fulvic acid together with minerals and trace elements. It has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and other traditional systems as a general tonic. Modern evidence for its health effects is limited, and product quality varies, with heavy-metal contamination a recognized concern.

Tongkat Ali

Tongkat ali is the common name for Eurycoma longifolia, a flowering shrub of the family Simaroubaceae native to Southeast Asia, whose roots are used in traditional medicine and sold as a dietary supplement [1]. It is widely marketed for claims about testosterone, male fertility, libido, and physical performance, though the supporting clinical evidence is mixed and largely preliminary [1][3]. The plant contains a range of bioactive compounds known as quassinoids, including eurycomanone.

SERM

Toremifene

Toremifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) of the triphenylethylene class, used to treat metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose tumors are estrogen receptor-positive [1][3]. A close chemical relative of tamoxifen, it blocks estrogen's effects in breast tissue while acting like estrogen in some other tissues [2]. Introduced in the United States in 1997, it is marketed under the brand name Fareston.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the collective name for a group of eight fat-soluble compounds, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols, of which alpha-tocopherol is the form the body preferentially retains and the one with the greatest vitamin activity. Its principal role is as a lipid-soluble antioxidant that protects cell membranes from damage by free radicals. Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and green vegetables, and dietary deficiency is rare, usually resulting from disorders of fat absorption rather than low intake.

Stimulant

Yohimbine

Yohimbine is an indole alkaloid obtained mainly from the bark of the West African tree Pausinystalia johimbe (yohimbe). Pharmacologically it acts chiefly as an antagonist of alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, and it has a long history as a purported aphrodisiac and a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It is available in some countries as a prescription drug and elsewhere as a dietary supplement, though its stimulant-like cardiovascular effects and inconsistent product quality have raised safety concerns.

Zinc Picolinate

Zinc picolinate is a dietary supplement form of the essential mineral zinc, in which zinc is bound to picolinic acid, a natural metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan. Like other zinc supplements it is used to help meet zinc requirements and to correct or prevent zinc deficiency. It is often promoted for having good intestinal absorption, a claim supported by some, though limited, human research.

Peptide

MT-2

MT-2 (Melanotan II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone that acts as a non-selective agonist at melanocortin receptors, most notably MC1R and MC4R. Through MC1R activation it stimulates melanogenesis, producing durable skin darkening with reduced ultraviolet exposure, while central MC4R activation drives pro-erectile and pro-sexual effects that were demonstrated in early human trials of erectile dysfunction and later informed development of the approved drug bremelanotide. Preclinical work has additionally characterized its capacity to suppress food intake, reduce adiposity and improve insulin sensitivity, promote peripheral nerve regeneration and neuroprotection, and stimulate central oxytocin pathways; the last of these underlies reports of rescued social behavior in a rodent model of autism. MT-2 remains an unapproved research compound, and its unregulated recreational use has been linked to adverse events including nausea, rhabdomyolysis, renal injury and case reports of melanoma arising in heavily pigmented skin.

7 outlets

Tadalafil

Tadalafil is a long-acting phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, a class of drugs that relax certain blood vessels. Sold under brand names such as Cialis and Adcirca, it is used to treat erectile dysfunction, the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is distinguished from related drugs by its notably long duration of action.

Beta-Sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol is a phytosterol, a plant-derived sterol whose chemical structure closely resembles that of cholesterol. It is one of the most abundant plant sterols in the human diet and is distributed widely in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, legumes, and other plant foods. It has been studied mainly for two purposes: lowering blood cholesterol by interfering with cholesterol absorption in the gut, and easing the urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia [1][2]. It is available as a dietary supplement and as an added ingredient in cholesterol-lowering foods.

SARM

BMS-564929

BMS-564929 is a nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb as an orally active candidate for age-related decline in muscle and strength. In laboratory studies it behaves as a potent androgen receptor agonist that favors skeletal muscle over the prostate, a tissue selectivity intended to separate the anabolic benefits of androgens from unwanted prostate stimulation. It advanced into early clinical testing but was never approved, and, like other SARMs, it has been prohibited in sport since 2008.

Catuaba

Catuaba is a common name for the bark of several Brazilian trees, most often Trichilia catigua and Erythroxylum vaccinifolium, used in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac and general tonic. Prepared traditionally as a bark infusion, it is taken for fatigue, low libido, and nervousness, and is sold internationally as a dietary supplement. Preclinical studies, chiefly on Trichilia catigua, report antidepressant-like, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, but there is little clinical evidence in humans, and products vary widely because the name covers more than one plant.

Cistanche

Cistanche is a genus of parasitic desert plants in the family Orobanchaceae whose dried fleshy stems have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Known in Chinese as rou cong rong and nicknamed desert ginseng, it is taken as a tonic said to support vitality, sexual function, and healthy aging. Its most studied constituents are phenylethanoid glycosides such as echinacoside and acteoside, though most of the supporting evidence to date comes from laboratory and animal research.

D-Chiro-Inositol

D-chiro-inositol is a stereoisomer of inositol, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol, and it functions as part of the signaling system through which insulin regulates blood glucose. In the body it is made from the more abundant myo-inositol by an insulin-dependent enzyme, and the balance between the two isomers is finely tuned and tissue-specific. It has been studied and used, often alongside myo-inositol, as a supplement for insulin resistance and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium)

Horny goat weed is the common name for Epimedium, a genus of flowering plants in the barberry family, Berberidaceae, most species of which are native to China. Known in Chinese medicine as yin yang huo, it has been used for centuries as a tonic and reputed aphrodisiac, as well as for fatigue and bone and joint complaints. Its principal active compound is the flavonoid icariin, which has been studied for effects on erectile function and bone.

Piceatannol

Piceatannol is a stilbenoid, a naturally occurring plant polyphenol closely related to resveratrol, from which it differs by a single extra hydroxyl group. It is found in grapes, red wine, passion fruit seeds, and other plants, and the body can also form it from resveratrol. Studied mainly in the laboratory, it has drawn interest for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities and as an inhibitor of the enzyme Syk kinase, but it remains a research compound rather than an approved medicine.

Propionyl-L-Carnitine

Propionyl-L-carnitine is an acyl ester of L-carnitine, a naturally occurring quaternary ammonium compound the body uses to move fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production. It has been studied mainly as a treatment for peripheral arterial disease and the exercise-induced leg pain known as intermittent claudication, where it is thought to correct a secondary carnitine deficiency in poorly perfused muscle. The compound is sold in parts of Europe as a prescription cardiovascular agent, though it has not been approved for use in the United States.

Pycnogenol

Pycnogenol is a trademarked dietary supplement made from the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, standardized to a high content of procyanidins. Rich in plant polyphenols that act as antioxidants, it is marketed for a wide range of conditions from circulation problems to skin health. Independent reviews of the clinical trials, however, have concluded that the evidence is not strong enough to confirm a benefit for any specific disorder. It is sold as a supplement rather than an approved medicine.

Antiandrogen

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is a lipidosterolic extract of the berries of Serenoa repens, a fan palm of the southeastern United States, and ranks among the most widely used herbal supplements for prostate health. Its proposed mechanism is genuinely pharmacological: in vitro the extract inhibits both isoenzymes of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to the more potent dihydrotestosterone, and interferes with androgen binding in prostate cells, alongside anti-inflammatory effects. Despite this rationale, rigorous placebo-controlled trials, including the NEJM STEP study and the dose-escalation CAMUS trial, and successive Cochrane reviews have generally found the standardized extract no more effective than placebo for lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Evidence for certain proprietary hexanic preparations remains debated, and the extract is consistently well tolerated with minimal impact on sexual function.

Suma

Suma, known botanically as Hebanthe eriantha and often as Pfaffia paniculata, is a South American vine of the amaranth family whose root is used in traditional Brazilian herbal medicine. Popularly called Brazilian ginseng and nicknamed para tudo, meaning for everything, it is taken as a general tonic and adaptogen and reputed aphrodisiac. Its root contains distinctive saponins known as pfaffosides along with plant sterols, and most research to date has been in cell and animal studies rather than human trials.

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is a flowering plant in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae, widely known as puncture vine, goathead or devil's-thorn for its hard, spiny fruit. Native to warm regions of southern Eurasia and Africa and now a widespread weed, it has a long history in traditional medicine and is sold today as a dietary supplement marketed for libido, athletic performance and testosterone support. Controlled research has not consistently shown that it raises testosterone in healthy men [1].

Zinc

Zinc is a chemical element and an essential trace mineral required by all forms of life. In the human body it is the second most abundant trace metal after iron and is needed for the function of hundreds of enzymes, as well as for immune defense, growth, wound healing, and DNA synthesis. It is obtained from foods such as shellfish, meat, legumes, and seeds, and it is also taken as a dietary supplement, most familiarly in lozenges marketed for the common cold.