How does Krachai Dam work for male vitality?

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.

Krachai Dam (Kaempferia parviflora)

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
3.PMID: 35889274 (2022) — Kaempferia parviflora Rhizome Extract as Potential Anti-Acne Ingredient. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 14693228 (2004) — Bioactive flavonoids from Kaempferia parviflora. · Fitoterapia
5.PMID: 18922550 (2008) — Phenolic glycosides from Kaempferia parviflora.

Krachai Dam

Sources & Citations