Akarkara

Anacyclus Pyrethrum (of the family Asteraceae) is a plant and herb from Ayurveda referred to as Akarhara (dried root extract, also called pyrethrin^[1]) or Pellitory root while being under the classification of Vajikaran Rasayana with other virility enhancers. It is traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and fertility herb as well as a brain tonic for the treatment of paralysis, hemiplegia, cephalalgia (headache), epilepsy, and rheumatism.^[2] It is also thought to 'purge' the body of toxins by stimulating blood flow to the brain and face, and causing increased salivation and mucus flow.^[3]

In other places, it is known as akarkarabh or akallaka (North Africa) where it originated only to later be introduced to India.^[4] It is also referred to as spanish chamomile due to looking visually similar to the chamomile plant.

Anacyclus pyrethrum is a herb traditionally used for male vitality and virility, with additional benefits in cognition

Anaclcus Pyrethrum tends to contain (root extract unless otherwise specified):

• 13 Alkylamides mostly based off of isobutylamide^[1] of which includes N-isobutyldienediynamide (Pellitorine or Pyrethrine)^[5][6] and Anacylin^[4] as the major alkylamides
• Hydrocarolin^[4]
• Inulin^[4]
• Sesamin^[4]
• Polysaccharides in the hot water fragment of solution^[3]

The known bioactives of the root extract appear to be the alkylamides, although the composition of this plant are not well known at this moment in time

200-600mg/kg of an ethanolic anacyclus pyrethrum extract 30 minutes prior to an electroshock induced seizure appeared to exert protective effects with the lowest dose being most effective (71.37% recovery) but at a lower potency than 25mg/kg phenytoin.^[4] Elsewhere, a hydroalcoholic extract at 50-500mg/kg orally showed protective effects when ingested prior to a pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure (50-100% protection) and a higher dose (100-1,000mg/kg) showed protection against electroshock induced seiure (16.7-50%).^[2]

The changes in oxidative biomarkers (enzymes and TBARS) as well as acetylcholinesterase seen with seizures are reduced with pretreatment of anacyclus pyrethrum.^[2]

Anacyclus Pyrethrum appears to have anti-convulsive properties which are seen following oral ingestion in rats

In rats with scopolamine-induced memory impairment, supplementation of an ethanolic extract of anacyclus pyrethrum at 50-200mg/kg was effective in preserving acquisition and retention of memory with the 100-200mg/kg dosage being comparable in potency to the reference drug Piracetam (200mg/kg).^[7] Anacyclus pyrethrum also appears to enhance social memory with a potency comparable to piracetam.^[7] Anti-amnesiac effects have also been noted in rats with induced seizures (normally reduces cognitive performance) due to the anti-convulsive properties of anacyclus pyrethrum.^[2]

This herb appears to have respectable anti-amnesiac properties, although its pro-cognitive properties (for usage as a nootropic) have not yet been evaluated and it does not appear to exceed the reference drug in potency

Anacyclus pyrethrum polysaccharide at 25-50mg/kg (I.P injection) was able to increase the phagocytocic index of macrophages in the range of 50-115% with 10mg/kg and 100mg/kg not being effective, a potency greater than Citrullus colocynthis yet lesser than Alpinia galanga.^[3] When tested in vivo, 50-100mg/kg of a petroleum ether extract was able to preserve phagocytosis in the presence of cyclophosphamide.^[8]

Anacyclus pyrethrum appears to increase phagocytosis of macrophages and prevent their immunosuppresion

Immune cell count in spleen cells appears to be enhanced with 25-50mg/kg injections of anacyclus pyrethrum polysaccharide, suggesting a mitogenic effect.^[3]

Appears to have mitogenic effects, although it is not ascertained which cell populations are stimulated

Supplementation of anacyclus pyrethrum ethanolic root extract (50-150mg/kg) over 28 days in rats noted dose-dependent increases in testosterone and luteinizing hormone to approximately two-fold of baseline (exact values not given).^[1] It is though anacyclyus works via stimulating the hypothalamus, as the alkylaimde class of molecules (also seen in Spilanthes acmella) have been known to work in this manner.^[9]

May increase testosterone in otherwise normal rats alongside its fertility enhancing effects

A water extract of anacyclus pyrethrum at 50-100mg/kg over 28 days appears to possess libido enhancing properties due to enhancing the penile erection index (202%), mounting and intromission frequency (increases of 196-266% and 173-384%, respectively), and latency time for mounting and intromission (82-90% and 63-76% of baseline, respectively).^[10] All parameters follow dose and time dependence (100mg/kg outperforming 50mg/kg and 28 days outperforming 15 days) and persisted for up to 15 days after supplementation^[10] and similar values have been noted elsewhere with the petroleum ether extract.^[11]

Appears to have relatively potent libido enhancing properties which persist for a few weeks after supplement cessation

Oral ingestion of 50-150mg/kg of an ethanolic root extract of anacyclus pyrethrum over 28 days to male rats appears to causes increases in the weight of the testicles (2.6-12.3%) and in particular both the epididymus (8.6-26.1%) and seminal vesicles (4.3-9.8%).^[1] The higher doses were comparable to 0.5mg/kg injections of testosterone and was not associated with any abnormal histological signs^[1] and similar changes have been seen with a lyophilized water extract^[10] and petroleum ether extract.^[11]

In regards to semen the above doses have been noted to increase sperm motility, viability, fructose content, and count.^[1]

There appear to be increases in testicular weight and seminal parameters suggest increased fertility in male rats

In rats, oral ingestion of 50-150mg/kg of an ethanolic root extract of anacyclus pyrethrum over 28 days appears to increase the weight of the prostate (7.5-21.5%) associated with androgenic activity.^[1] This has been noted elsewhere to a similar but slightly lesser degree.^[10][11]

There appears to be an increase in prostate weight associated with this herb, possibly related to the androgenic activities

300-2,000mg/kg of the ethanolic root extract failed to acutely kill any rats within 24 hours of observation^[4] and elsewhere a study noting that '50mg/kg and 100mg/kg were 1/20^th and 1/10^th of the LD₅₀ suggest that this value has been established at 1,000mg/kg for longterm use (of the petroleum root extract).^[8] However, a more prolonged study (90 days) using 1,000mg/kg of the ethanolic extract in rats failed to find any evidence of toxicity.^[12]

Toxicological data is preliminary and by no means expansive, but currently it seems like the dosages used for supplements are not associated with any lethality