This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Krachai Dam contains polymethoxyflavones, specifically 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, which function as natural PDE5 inhibitors. This mechanism helps relax smooth muscle tissue and improve blood flow, supporting male vitality. Additionally, the herb appears to enhance mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, contributing to its traditional use as a vitality tonic. Evidence level: C.
Does Krachai Dam interact with blood thinners?
Yes, Krachai Dam may interact with anticoagulant medications. Due to its potential effects on blood flow and circulation, combining this herb with blood thinners like warfarin or aspirin could increase the risk of bleeding. Individuals on anticoagulant therapy should avoid this supplement unless specifically cleared by a healthcare provider. Evidence level: D (Theoretical).
What is the recommended dosage for Kaempferia parviflora extract?
The standard recommended dosage for Kaempferia parviflora extract is typically 100 to 200 mg daily. This range is commonly used in studies regarding male vitality and energy enhancement. It is best taken with food to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal discomfort. Users should adhere to specific product guidelines, as extract potencies vary. Evidence level: C.
Is Krachai Dam safe to take during pregnancy?
No, Krachai Dam is considered unsafe during pregnancy. Traditional usage and pharmacological properties suggest it may stimulate uterine contractions or alter blood flow, posing risks to the pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid this herb entirely. There is currently insufficient safety data to support its use in these populations.
What are the common side effects of Krachai Dam?
Krachai Dam is generally well-tolerated, but some users experience mild side effects. The most frequently reported issues include gastrointestinal discomfort and headaches. These symptoms are often dose-dependent and may be mitigated by taking the supplement with a meal. If adverse effects persist, discontinuation is advised. Evidence level: C.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Kaempferia parviflora, also known as Black Ginger or Krachai Dam, is a medicinal plant from the Zingiberaceae family used traditionally for various health-promoting purposes [PMID:27694558, PMID:30643531].
Background
Kaempferia parviflora is a tropical medicinal plant native to regions including Thailand, where it is known as Thai ginseng or Black Ginger [PMID:25493179, PMID:36904043]. It is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) [PMID:27694558, PMID:36145222].
Traditional uses
Traditional uses include treating allergies, asthma, impotence, gout, diarrhea, dysentery, peptic ulcers, diabetes [PMID:18077118], as well as abscesses and osteoarthritis [PMID:36904043]. It has also been used as a folk medicine for anti-inflammatory diseases [PMID:34649355] and to improve blood flow [PMID:31249788].
Active compounds
The rhizomes contain methoxyflavones, including 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (DMF) [PMID:35889274, PMID:35077499], 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone [PMID:38938284, PMID:14693228], and 5,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone [PMID:14693228]. Other identified compounds include phenolic glycosides [PMID:18922550], terpenoids [PMID:29243594], and polyphenols such as gallic acid, apigenin, and tangeretin [PMID:29849904].
Mechanism of action
Mechanisms include the suppression of NF-κB activation and reduction of inflammatory markers like iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and various interleukins [PMID:34649355]. It may activate the cGMP-NO signaling pathway and increase mitochondrial functions [PMID:30643531]. Specifically, 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone targets and stabilizes the ubiquitin ligase HRD1 to promote PD-L1 degradation [PMID:38938284], while 5,7-dimethoxyflavone enhances PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial function [PMID:40871670].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BPhysical Performance
Clinical trials indicated significant increases in hand grip strength [PMID:27694558].
Evidence BSexual Health
One study found enhanced sexual erotic stimuli [PMID:27694558].
Evidence DObesity (Animal Model)
Extracts decreased body weight gain, intraabdominal fat, plasma triglycerides, and leptin levels in mice [PMID:25493179, PMID:37691744].
Evidence DSarcopenic Obesity (Animal Model)
5,7-dimethoxyflavone reduced body weight and fat mass while enhancing grip strength and skeletal muscle mass in obese mice [PMID:40871670].
Evidence DInflammation/Psoriasis (In Vitro)
Suppressed LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells and anti-psoriatic effects in HaCaT cells [PMID:34649355].
Evidence DAcne (In Vitro/In Vivo)
Demonstrated antibacterial activity against C. acnes, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis [PMID:35889274].
Safety & adverse effects
A systematic review of clinical trials reported no adverse events with a dosage of 1.35 g/day [PMID:27694558]. A 90-day sub-chronic toxicity study in rats and in vitro mutagenicity tests were conducted to evaluate its safety profile [PMID:31249788].
Drug interactions
Kaempferia parviflora extract competitively inhibits CYP3A-mediated midazolam metabolism [PMID:35510070] and alters activities of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B, and CYP2E1 [PMID:22465145]. It has been shown to decrease the plasma concentration of acetaminophen in rats [PMID:31195843].
Evidence summary
Evidence is primarily based on in vitro and animal models (Level D), with limited clinical data (Level B) that remains inconclusive due to small study sizes [PMID:27694558].
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 34649355 (2021) — Anti-psoriatic and anti-inflammatory effects of Kaempferia parviflora in keratinocytes and macrophage cells. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2.PMID: 38938284 (2024) — 5,7,4'-Trimethoxyflavone triggers cancer cell PD-L1 ubiquitin-proteasome degradation and facilitates antitumor immunity by targeting HRD1. · MedComm
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
PMID: 27694558 (2017) — Clinical Effects of Krachaidum ( Kaempferia parviflora): A Systematic Review. · Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
7.PMID: 30643531 (2018) — Kaempferia parviflora and Its Methoxyflavones: Chemistry and Biological Activities. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
8.PMID: 25493179 (2014) — Kaempferia parviflora extract increases energy consumption through activation of BAT in mice. · Food science & nutrition
9.PMID: 40871670 (2025) — 5,7-Dimethoxyflavone Attenuates Sarcopenic Obesity by Enhancing PGC-1α-Mediated Mitochondrial Function in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice. · Nutrients
10.PMID: 31249788 (2019) — Toxicological evaluation of standardized Kaempferia parviflora extract: Sub-chronic and mutagenicity studies. · Toxicology reports
11.PMID: 35204307 (2022) — Improvement of Damage in Human Dermal Fibroblasts by 3,5,7-Trimethoxyflavone from Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora). · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
12.PMID: 35077499 (2022) — Characterizing Kaempferia parviflora extracellular vesicles, a nanomedicine candidate. · PloS one
13.PMID: 36904043 (2023) — Methoxyflavones from Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker) and their Inhibitory Effect on Melanogenesis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
16.PMID: 36145222 (2022) — Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) Extract Enhances Endurance Capacity by Improving Energy Metabolism and Substrate Utilization in Mice. · Nutrients
17.PMID: 35510070 (2022) — Inhibition of CYP3A-mediated Midazolam Metabolism by Kaempferia Parviflora. · Food safety (Tokyo, Japan)
18.PMID: 39202650 (2024) — Evaluating the Diverse Anticancer Effects of Laos Kaempferia parviflora (Black Ginger) on Human Melanoma Cell Lines. · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
19.PMID: 21305633 (2011) — Protective effects of methoxyflavone derivatives from black galingale against glutamate induced neurotoxicity in primary cultured rat cortical cells. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
20.PMID: 34981485 (2021) — Role of Herbal Medicines in the Management of Brain Injury. · Advances in experimental medicine and biology
21.PMID: 22465145 (2012) — Modulatory effects of Kaempferia parviflora extract on mouse hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
22.PMID: 36986474 (2023) — Characterization of Lemon Pepper and Black Ginger Extracts and Macroemulsions as Natural Pain Relievers for Spice Stick Balsam Formulation. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
23.PMID: 29849904 (2018) — Antiskin Inflammatory Activity of Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) through Antioxidative Activity. · Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
24.PMID: 31195843 (2020) — In vivo effect of Kaempferia parviflora extract on pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen. · Drug and chemical toxicology
25.PMID: 18077118 (2008) — Anti-allergic activity of compounds from Kaempferia parviflora. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
26.PMID: 24882400 (2014) — Search for new type of PPARγ agonist-like anti-diabetic compounds from medicinal plants. · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin