Tongkat Ali Potency: Facts & User Guide

The most potent Tongkat Ali supplement is believed to contain more than 1.5% of eurycomanone, 22% eurypeptides and more than 40% of glycosaponin.

The truth is, highly potent Tongkat Ali supplements are produced from the best extraction technology, standardized extraction protocols, compliance with Tongkat Ali standards, and backed by clinical tests to prove their pharmacological effects on health.

This article covers Tongkat Ali’s potency, methods and choosing the most potent Tongkat Ali. Learn more about how Tongkat Ali potency may benefit your health and should you even buy the strongest Tongkat Ali.

Topics covered in this article:
  1. Introduction 
  2. What are potency and efficacy?
  3. Why potency matters to your health
  4. The potency of various extraction methods 
  5. Finding the most potent Tongkat Ali
  6. The effect of potency and health

Potent Tongkat Ali plants can be found in the remote rainforests of Pahang and Johor in the south of Malaysia. But every batch of Tongkat Ali raw materials have varying level of bioactive ingredients that affect potency.

Introduction

Most potent Tongkat Ali products are developed through years of research using the best extraction protocols and are often clinically tested to ensure maximum potency and efficacy.

According to Miami Herald and Men’s Journal, MIT-formulated AKARALI is clinically tested with more than 26 clinical trials. 

So, what is behind clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements that make them highly potent and effective?

In the above example, AKARALI’s  standardized extraction protocol, with hot-water and freeze-dried method delivers one of the highest bioactive compounds such as eurycomanone, glycosaponin, polysaccharides and other essential nutrients compared to other Tongkat Ali brands.

Now, the secret behind any potent Tongkat Ali extraction starts with sourcing quality wild mature Tongkat Ali plants that is more than 5 years old.

In this article, we will deep dive into the various extraction methods and how this may affect Tongkat Ali’s potency.

Potency & Efficacy of Tongkat Ali

What is Tongkat Ali potency?

Potency in Tongkat Ali is measured by the amount of bioactive ingredient (expressed in percentage) that is needed to produce a biological or pharmacological response (i.e effect) in our bodies.

Potency is used as a comparative measure of different doses between two Tongkat Ali products/extract that are needed to produce the same pharmacological effect (i.e response)

In pharmacology, potency is also known as the “drug strength”.

HOW DOES IT BENEFIT ME?

Consuming potent Tongkat Ali can benefit you in many ways:

  • higher potency with higher efficacy translates to better gains, and significant health benefits.
  • higher potency means consumption of a smaller quantity (dose) to achieve a higher biological response (i.e health benefits)

What is Tongkat Ali efficacy?

Efficacy is the ability of a product / drugs / herbal supplement to produce pharmacological responses to health or any system in our body. Efficacy is used to also measure any effects on health.

Efficacy of Tongkat Ali is usually validated through clinical trials and research studies.

HOW DOES IT BENEFIT ME?

Learning about Tongkat Ali’s efficacy helps you choose the most potent Tongkat Ali. Since potency and efficacy are linked, here is an example of how potency and efficacy of two Tongkat Ali supplements bring better insight when making your buying decision.

Identifying the most potent Tongkat Ali with the highest efficacy
  • Tongkat Ali Product (A) has the same level of efficacy compared to Product (B). However, Product (A) is more potent as it requires a lower dose to achieve the same response (i.e health benefits).
  • Tongkat Ali Product (C) has lower efficacy than Product (A) and (B). However, Product (C) has a similar level of potency to product (A).

In short, the next time you purchase Tongkat Ali, make sure it is clinically tested for potency and efficacy.

Measuring Potency in Tongkat Ali

Tongkat Ali’s potency is measured by the amount of eurycomanone (expressed in percentage value) that can be extracted from the root.

The eurycomanone is a bioactive compound found in Tongkat Ali; often exist in small quantities in each plant. This gives the unique medicinal properties that benefits health in many areas as proven in by scientists in the last two decades.

Facts on potency
  • Chromatography tests is the ultimate litmus test to verify the level of eurycomanone in Tongkat Ali. However, each plant is unique and may not be able to produce consistent level of eurycomanone when subjected to chromatography tests.
  • The most potent Tongkat Ali based on standardized extract contains  eurycomanone between 1.5% to 3%.
  • A higher level of eurycomanone is rare and often not commercially available although few Black Tongkat Ali roots found were reported to contain eurycamone as high as 5% to 10%.
  • However if the extraction protocol is inferior or not standardized, each production batch of Tongkat Ali products will result in varying degree of eurycomanone and other bioactive ingredients.

Research has shown that eleven out of 24 Tongkat Ali brands complied (0.84-8.48% w/v) with the criteria set by Malaysian Standards, with only nine of the products recorded eurycomanone level above (1.6-8.48%).

Find out which Tongkat Ali brands are potent and can deliver consistent health benefits.

Why potency matter?

Potent Tongkat Ali products deliver optimal health benefits in less time due to faster absorption from higher bioactive ingredients.

It means you don’t need 800mg of Tongkat Ali daily to produce the same effect from a highly potent 200mg of Tongkat Ali.

HOW DOES IT BENEFIT ME?

Expect the following when consuming clinically tested and potent Tongkat Ali. 

  • For energy – expect improvement within 24 to 48 hours for first-time users.
  • For libido – improvements within two to four weeks.
  • For testosterone – improvements from four two 12 weeks.
  • For mood – faster improvement within 24 to 48 hours,
  • For fat-burn – improvement after than 100 days.

Note: The above improvements or benefits may vary depending on age, lifestyle, diet, medical conditions and other factors. But most improvements are based on clinical studies and real-world feedback from consuming 200mg – 400mg of potent Tongkat Ali standardized extract.

Warnings.

Please do not consume 1,000mg Tongkat Ali daily dosage unless it is absolutely necessary, or it is recommended by a doctor or qualified healthcare professionals. A higher dosage from a low-potency Tongkat Ali extract may not produce  any effects, gains and health benefits.

Refer to our dosage and maximum limit guide, to avoid unwanted side effects from incorrect dosage, or when using Tongkat Ali to achieve your health goals.

Which Tongkat Ali extract is the most potent?

The most potent Tongkat Ali supplement uses standardized hot water root extract, with higher and more consistent level of potency compared to conventional 200:1, 400:1, or even 600:1 extract.

The extraction method and protocols determine Tongkat Ali’s potency. Common herbal extraction methods include solvent-based, water (aqueous extract) method and others.

Lets investigate various extraction methods and how it affects Tongkat Ali’s potency.

Level of Eurycomanone : <0.5%

Potency: Low-Medium

Real-world benefits & gains
3/5

The traditional extraction uses the hot-water boiling method to extract the bioactive ingredients from Tongkat Ali. The water is then served in a cup or mixed with tea.

This ancient method may not be potent but is widely practiced in present times. Depending on the location and age of the Tongkat Ali plant, studies have shown that the percentage of eurycomanone (i.e the most bioactive and useful compound) found in Tongkat Ali in it’s pure form (i.e unprocessed raw root) is between 0.8 – 1.5%.

The most potent Tongkat Ali roots are from plants harvested in the state of Pahang, Malaysia and some parts of Borneo (Sarawak).

This method however produces lower efficacy too as some of the bioactive compounds may be destroyed, or diluted due to excessive thermal heat from boiling. In addition, it is not an efficient way to consume Tongkat Ali vis-à-vis the amount of bioactive ingredients that your body needs to achieve those health goals.

Imagine having to drink bucket loads of Tongkat Ali tea everyday to get the same effect from a 200mg capsule.

This is the reason why recent consumers prefers to consume Tongkat Ali extract rather than the traditional method.

Level of Eurycomanone : 0.5%-1.0%

Potency: Medium

Real-world benefits & gains
4/5

Conventional non-standardized Tongkat Ali extract uses either alcohol-based solvent (usually methanol) to extract bioactive ingredients. About 90% of Tongkat Ali supplement uses ethanol-based extract, which is the least potent.

This mass-produced herbal extraction method is common due to low-cost manufacturing. 

Reflux extraction is a known conventional method for producing potent Tongkat Ali extract powder; where a solid-to-liquid extraction process involve solvent evaporation and condensation. 

Expect lower and inconsistent level of eurycomanone, eurypeptides, glycosaponin when using this extraction method.

Level of Eurycomanone : 0.8% – 3%

Potency: High

Real-world benefits & gains
4.5/5

Standardized aqueous or hot water root extract is the most potent Tongkat Ali extract. It is known to deliver a higher level of eurycomanone and other bioactive ingredients from Tongkat Ali with higher safety limits. Standardized hot water extract technology such as Physta® is regarded as the most potent Tongkat Ali root extract.

It also contains a higher level of eurycomaone (1.5%), glycosaponin (>40%) and polysaccharides (30%) compared to other Tongkat Ali extraction methods.

Another advantage is that standardized Tongkat Ali extract ensures every production batch delivers consistent level of bioactive ingredients; which guarantees consistent health gains.

Standardized Tongkat Ali Extract Comparison Chart

Standardized hot water Tongkat Ali extract is the most potent Tongkat Ali extract that is used by many health professionals.

Standardized root extract enables manufacturers to reduce waste, energy and resources due to less amount of raw Tongkat Ali roots required to produce the same level of potency.

Which type of Tongkat Ali is the most potent?

The most potent Tongkat Ali uses standardized hot water root extract which delivers bioactive compounds eurycomanone between 0.5 – 1.5% and eurypeptides between 20 to 25%. Other potency markers in Tongkat Ali include polysacharrides and glycosaponin which delivers additional health benefits.

There are four types of Tongkat Ali extract that delivers varying degree of potency and safety. The vital component of any extraction process is to balance the potency, efficacy and safety to minimize severe side effects on health.

Types of Tongkat Ali extract

 

Potency &

Safety

Standardized hot water root extract

 

Most potent with the highest level of safety

Standardized ethanol root extract

 

Higher potency and but less safe

 

Non-standardized root extract

 

Medium potency

Non-standardized generic extract

Least potent

Is 200:1 or 400:1 extract more potent?

The extraction ratio is not a potency marker for Tongkat Ali. But most Tongkat Ali brands on Amazon are still marketed using the extraction ratio of 200:1, 400:1 and marked as “highly potent”.

Some cheap Tongkat Ali brands even resort to a “highly potent formula” by selling it in higher doses (eg: 600mg per capsule)

This has resulted in a mixed bag of reviews, with brands recommending higher-than-required daily Tongkat Ali dosage. There are many generic Tongkat Ali that contains low bioactive ingredients due to inexperienced manufacturers that are not specialized in Tongkat Ali extraction.

Is Tongkat Ali with 10% eurycomanone the most potent?

High bioavailability of eurycomanone at 10% or more should not be classified as having the highest potency. In vitro studies showed that 0.5 to 1.6% eurycomanone is sufficient to induce pharmacological effects on health.

Higher eurycomanone is widely used as a marketing gimmick in recent years, similar to the narrative of 200:1 or 500:1 Tongkat Ali extracts.

A study by the Ministry of Health Malaysia in 2018 revealed that eurycomanone is a polar compound with low permeability and absorption. The study further concluded that the use of lower percentage of eurycomanone may be necessary to establish its efficacy.

In other words, a potent Tongkat Ali with a high percentage of eurycomanone (eg: 5% or 10%) may not translate to higher efficacy.

Is Black Tongkat Ali the most potent and safe?

Black Tongkat Ali (Polyalthia Bullata) is reported to be more potent than Yellow Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) as it offers higher bioactive ingredients; with eurycomanone between 2% up to 10%.

However, there are no toxicity and safety studies on black Tongkat Ali in humans. Not only that, severe reported side effects could potentially mean that black Tongkat Ali is not safe, especially when consumed in high doses.

 

Tongkat Ali

Potency

Safety

Black Tongkat Ali

(Polyalthia Bullata)

 

High

Not safe with severe side effects

Yellow Tongkat Ali

(Eurycoma Longifolia)

 

Medium – High

Safe at doses between 200 mg to 400 mg

Real-World Benefits from Higher Potency

Potent Tongkat Ali supplements deliver faster response time due to high bioactive compounds, which results in less dosage required to produce the desired benefits to your health.

There are many real-world reviews from those consuming potent Tongkat Ali supplements using standardized hot-water root extract, with significant gains reported after two weeks, four weeks and even six weeks of Tongkat Ali consumption.

User Guide: Using potent Tongkat Ali supplements.
  • Start with a low dosage (100mg to 200mg) within the recommended dosage and maximum limit to allow your body to adjust and absorb new bioactive ingredients from Tongkat Ali.
  • Avoid buying Tongkat Ali on Amazon with marketing claims such as “strongest Tongkat Ali”, or “10% eurycomanone”.
  • Avoid buying Tongkat Ali which does not comply to Tongkat Ali Standard MS2409
  • Some brands use Black Tongkat Ali (Polyalthia Bullata) which claim to have higher potency, but most Black Tongkat Ali is reported to contain higher level of mercury.

Parting Thoughts

The strongest and most potent Tongkat Ali product in the market today uses standardized extraction protocol, with hot-water and freeze-dried method  with higher bioactive compounds from eurycomanone, glycosaponin, polysaccharides and other essential bioactive ingredients.

AKARALI is by far the strongest and most potent Tongkat Ali on the market today.

Visible results from consuming the most potent Tongkat Ali with the highest efficacy. Source: James Goodman

With 5,000 Tongkat Ali brands to choose from, always choose the best Tongkat Ali brands that offer the highest potency. The strongest Tongkat Ali supplements are usually clinically tested on humans to verify its efficacy and health claims.

If you are using highly potent Tongkat Ali for the first time, please refer to our Tongkat Ali FAQ section and our Tongkat Ali Dosage Guide to get the most from Tongkat Ali.

Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .

Disclaimer: Content published in this article is not intended to promote any brands nor to provide any form of recommendations to purchase or consume medication, drugs or herbal supplement brands directly or indirectly. By reading this, the sole responsibility and decision lies on the reader to perform their own assessment and / or to arrive at an informed decision based on publicly available information. By reading the content published on this website means you are aware on the risks involved in purchasing any of the products or brands mentioned in this article. We highly recommend you and the readers to consult your nearest doctor before making any purchase from this website or any other websites or social platforms after reading this article.

Share this post

Related Posts

One Response

  1. I have read your details about this product and learned a lot of knowledge about your product i appreciate if the prices of your products may be quoted
    Thanks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *