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| Protodioscin |
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| Protodioscin is a kind of a furostanol saponin. It is a yellow-brown color, bitter-tasting amorphous powder. It is soluble in water, slightly soluble in methanol, but not soluble in chloroform. Its Chemical Formula is 26-O- beta-D-Glycopyranosyl-22-hydroxyfurost-5-ene-3beta,26-diol-3-O-beta-diglucorhamnoside and molecular formula is C51H84O22. |
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| Protodioscin is widely used in the world as health care product for improvement of sexual performance and body building. |
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| Source |
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| Protodioscin is derived from a kind of perennial trailing plant - Tribulus terrestris. |
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| Tribulus is a prostrate, annual herb grows up to 90 cm in length with paripinnate leaves. The flowers are small, yellowish, and solitary. The fruits of tribulus are typically five angled and spinous.
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| Tribulus terrestris is a flowering plant in the family Zygophyllaceae, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the old world in southern Europe, southern Asia, throughout Africa, and Australia. It can thrive even in desert climates and poor soil. Like many weedy species, this plant has many common names, including puncturevine, caltrop, cathead, yellow vine, goathead, burra gokharu and bindii. |
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| Pharmacology |
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| It is known that sufficient dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the epididymis is necessary for the maturation process of spermatozoa. It has been speculated that in some idiopathicoligoasthenoteratozoospermia, male infertility is due to the low concentration of DHEA in the epididymis. In clinical trial protodioscin is proved to increase the serum DHEA level of infertile men, without any change in the level of testosterone and other androgens. |
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| Protodioscin is the precursor of DHEA in patients with low serum level of this hormone. mechanism of action involves the conversion of protodioscin to DHEA. DHEA may increase cell membrane integrity and functions thereby resulting in better sexual performance and the general feeling of well-being.
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| Therapeutic Application |
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- Protodioscin reported to enhance libido & erectile function
- Protodioscin improves muscle growth & body strength
- Protodioscin reported to increase the number and motility of spermatozoa
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| Dosage |
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| Usual Dose 250-500mg T.I.D for 2 to 3 months |
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