Marapuama extract.
Marapuama Extract supplementation for targeted health support. A Brazilian bark extract taken for drive and libido, with traditional use for energy and nerve tone. The human record on it is small and mostly uncontrolled.
Reviewed March 2026
- Category
- Plant extract
What Marapuama Extract is, and what it does.
- Does it work
- Promising traditional herb with some research support. Better evidence than many libido supplements. Worth trying for sexual function issues. Not a magic bullet.
- How much to take
- 1-2g dried bark or 500-1000mg extract daily. Often combined with other herbs.
- Time to feel it
- Two to four weeks of daily use is where the open-label reports place any change in drive. A mild lift in alertness sometimes turns up sooner.
- The first dose
- Usually nothing immediate. Some feel mild stimulation.
- With regular use
- May improve libido and sexual function over 2-4 weeks.
- How well tolerated
- Appears safe but limited long-term data. Stimulant-like effects possible.
- How it feels
- Subtle energy and possibly increased interest in sex. Variable response.
- The overlooked benefit
- The bark trade is loose, and several unrelated trees get sold as marapuama. The botanical name Ptychopetalum olacoides on the label is what tells you what's in the capsule.
500 to 1,000mg a day is where Marapuama Extract works.
Source: Waynberg & Brewer, Adv Ther 2000; traditional Amazonian use
The proof, claim by claim.
What these words mean
These words describe the research, not the molecule's worth. Research strength is how much work stands behind one claim, and it is never a product score.
- Improves libidoSeveral small studies supportive
- Helps erectile functionOne key study showed 62% improvement
2 more claims
- Neuroprotective effectsTraditional use and preclinical data
- Well tolerated in useTraditional use, limited adverse event data
Questions people ask about Marapuama Extract.
- Does it really help with erections?
- Some evidence yes, particularly one French study showing 62% improvement in erectile function. Mechanism involves nerve and blood flow effects. Not as strong as medications.
5 more questions
- Does it work for women?
- Studies include women and show libido improvements. Traditional use is for both sexes. May be helpful for female sexual dysfunction.
- How long until it works?
- Studies typically run 2-4 weeks. Some notice effects sooner. Unlike Viagra, this is not an immediate effect drug.
- Is it a testosterone booster?
- Probably not directly. Effects seem more related to dopamine and nerve function than testosterone. May enhance sexual function without changing hormones.
- What does 'potency wood' mean?
- Traditional name reflecting its use for male sexual potency. The wood/bark is what's used medicinally.
- Can I combine it with maca?
- Common combination in libido formulas. Both have some evidence for sexual function. May be synergistic.
No pairing data for Marapuama Extract yet.
Nothing on file for Marapuama Extract, either from a combination trial or from settled biochemistry. When either lands, it appears here with its source.
Stitching two separate single-ingredient studies into a pairing is the one thing this engine will not do. When a study of the combination itself holds up at source, it lands here with its citation.
No invented synergy. Where actives were studied on their own rather than together, each shows on its own evidence, never a combined effect no trial measured.
Research strength. Research strength says how much work stands behind the combination. It is never a product score.
Independent record. Every finding is cited to a named trial, dated, and never written by the brand.
24 pairings are live across the library today. Checked 25 August 2026.
Nothing specific on file for Marapuama Extract. Match the label to the daily amount above, and tell your doctor what you take.
Not medical advice. Show the label to your pharmacist.The studies, linked.
3 sources behind our Marapuama Extract verdict, every one linked to PubMed, the journal or ClinicalTrials.gov.
- StudyA Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of an Anthocyanin–Maqui Berry Extract (Delphinol®) on Oxidative Stress BiomarkersPubMed ↗Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2015, cited 129 times
2 more linked trials
- StudyAbsorption and chemopreventive targets of sulforaphane in humans following consumption of broccoli sprouts or a myrosinase-treated broccoli sprout extractPubMed ↗Molecular nutrition & food research, 2015, cited 123 times, open access
- StudyEfficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot StudyPubMed ↗BioMed Research International, 2015, cited 79 times, open access
From clinical trials and PubMed, ranked by study type and citation weight, not cherry-picked.
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.