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Botanical & herbal supplements

Muira Puama

Ptychopetalum olacoides bark/root extract

Muira puama is a botanical commonly labeled as Ptychopetalum olacoides bark or root extract. The cited human safety report tested a four-herb mixture rather than standalone muira puama, so it does not establish a nootropic effect, a standard dose, or long-term safety for individual products.

Libido VitalityWhole HerbTraditional UseEthnobotanicalInsufficient EvidenceLong Term Safety Unknown
Updated August 2026/4 min read/4 citations
Reviewed by the NootropicsIndex editorial team.Method: prioritize cited human research and official safety or regulatory sources; compare retailer-listed prices without endorsing products.Affiliate disclosure
01

What is it?

What this Muira Puama page covers

2

Muira puama products are commonly labeled as Ptychopetalum olacoides bark or root preparations. A product comparison should start with the stated species, plant part, extract details, and blend ingredients.

02

Names, aliases and forms

Latin NamePtychopetalum olacoides
Common NameMarapuama
Spelling VariantMuira puama root extract
03

Mechanisms of action

Do not turn traditional context into a nootropic claim

1

The cited human report concerns Catuama, a four-herb mixture used in Brazil as a stimulant, tonic, and aphrodisiac. That traditional mixture context cannot establish a mechanism or cognitive effect for muira puama by itself.

04

Potential effects and evidence map

Direct human evidence for standalone muira puama is not established by the cited literature. A 28-day safety report concerns Catuama, a mixture containing guarana, catuaba, muira puama, and ginger, and cannot show that any observed outcome belongs to muira puama alone.

Effect domainMagnitudeGrade
Libido / vitality1
UnknownConfidence: High

The cited evidence does not establish a standalone muira puama effect for vitality, cognition, or sexual function.

Note The available human report is a four-herb mixture and cannot attribute an effect to muira puama alone.

0/5
D
05

Typical dosages and timing

NO UNIVERSAL DOSE1No standalone dose

Catuama was studied at 25 mL twice daily for 28 days, but it also contained guarana, catuaba, and ginger. That mixture regimen is not a muira puama dose and should not be transferred to bark, root, powder, or extract products.

06

Safety, side effects and risk profile

A short mixture study is not product-level safety evidence1
The Catuama report found no severe adverse reactions or hematological/biochemical changes over 28 days. Because it studied four botanicals together, it cannot establish the safety of standalone muira puama or longer use.
Evidence uncertainty1
Confidence: High

There is no standalone human nootropic or long-term safety conclusion in the cited evidence. Do not treat a short mixed-botanical report as evidence for an individual product.

Note Form, plant part, and co-ingredients are material; this is uncertainty, not evidence of ordinary-use harm.

1/5
D
Interaction risk1
Confidence: Low

Standalone medicine-interaction information is not established here. Avoid assuming that a four-herb mixture identifies the interaction profile of muira puama alone.

Note Use individualized advice when medicines or relevant clinical concerns are involved.

1/5
D
Pregnancy / lactation caution1
Confidence: High

The cited short adult mixture study does not establish safety during pregnancy or lactation. Do not extrapolate from it to these populations.

Note Evidence gap, not a claim of known harm.

1/5
D
07

Interactions and cautions

Do not infer interactions from a blended study1

No standalone interaction conclusion follows from the cited mixture study. People using medicines or managing a relevant condition should seek individualized advice before adding a product with uncertain plant identity or co-ingredients.

08

Legal and regulatory status

U.S. REGULATORY CONTEXT · 20263

In the United States, botanical products can be regulated differently depending on their form and intended use. A disease-treatment claim generally makes a product a drug; an oral botanical labeled as a dietary supplement is subject to dietary-supplement requirements. This does not mean every muira puama product is approved or compliant.

09

Practical buying and quality notes

  • Look for Ptychopetalum olacoides, the stated plant part, extract ratio or standardization if supplied, and any added stimulants or other botanicals. Prefer products that disclose identity and independent quality testing rather than relying on a generic name.2
10

FAQ

Is muira puama a proven nootropic?

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No. The cited human report is a short safety study of a four-herb mixture, not a standalone cognition study. This page does not present muira puama as a proven focus, memory, or vitality supplement.

Does an ingredient database entry mean approval?

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No. An ingredient-label database helps identify terms found on supplement labels. FDA explains that dietary supplements are not pre-approved for safety and effectiveness in the way many people expect for medicines.

11

References

  1. Oliveira CH, Moraes MEA, Moraes MO, et al. Clinical toxicology study of an herbal medicinal extract of Paullinia cupana, Trichilia catigua, Ptychopetalum olacoides and Zingiber officinale (Catuama) in healthy volunteers. Phytotherapy Research. 2005;19(1):54-57.
  2. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplement Label Database: Muira Puama Root Extract.
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Draft guidance: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements.
Note

This page is informational and summarizes available evidence. It is not medical advice, a recommendation, or a substitute for guidance from a qualified clinician.