Massularia Acuminata Studies

There has recently been quite a stir caused by blogger Anthony Robbins, who disputes the legitimacy of Pink Magic’s primary ingredient, Massularia Acuminata. Robbins primary argument is against the study cited by USPLabs that shows the androgenic effects of massularia acuminata in animal models.

Robbins’ writing is well-intentioned, but is somewhat out of ignorance. He admittedly has not used Pink Magic. If he had tried it before talking, he would have had the muscle fullness, strength gains, and incredible pumps that the rest of us are having, and he would have avoided writing his article as it’d be a moot point.

Not only that, but we ALREADY have cold, hard proof of Pink Magic Elevating Testosterone Levels by 41% between days 8 and 25 in Blood Tests. END. OF. ARGUMENT.

But instead of trying it or looking at human blood tests, Robbins decided to sit at his computer and blog about it before experiencing Pink Magic for himself, so here we are. If the blood tests aren’t enough for you, read on.

First, let’s show you the study that USPLabs references (and yes, I do agree that we need more studies):

Androgenic potentials of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata (G. Don) Bullock ex Hoyl. stem in male Wistar rats
Musa Toyin Yakubu, Musbau Adewumi Akanjia, Adenike Temidayo Oladijia and Ayoade Abdulfatai Adesokana
aMedicinal Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

The use of medicinal plants in the management of several ailments is gaining popularity nowadays. Massularia acuminata, one of such plants is commonly used as chewing sticks due to its antimicrobial activity and the aqueous extract of its stem as an aphrodisiac. Aphrodisiac activity in some plants may be due to androgen increasing property of its phytochemicals.

Aim of the study

This study therefore sought to assess the androgenic potentials of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem in male rats for 21 days.

Materials and methods

Male rats weighing between 220 and 260 g were completely randomized into four groups: A, B, C and D. Group A, the control received orally 1 ml of distilled water (the vehicle) while groups B, C and D were orally administered with 1 ml each corresponding to 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the plant extract, respectively for 21 days. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after 1, 7 and 21 days.

Results

Compared with the control, extract administration at all the doses produced significant increase (P < 0.05) in testes–body weight ratio, testicular protein, glycogen, sialic acid, cholesterol, testosterone, luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations throughout the period of administration. Testicular gamma glutamyl transferase activities were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after the first dose and was sustained throughout the experimental period.

Conclusion

The available evidence in this study suggests that aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem has androgenic potential which may stimulate male sexual maturation and enhance normal testicular function.

Exciting study, no doubt. So here’s where Robbins begins picking at it:

But check out the dose required…the lowest dose examined in the study was 250mgs/kg! On a kg/kg (simple comparative bodyweight) basis you’ll need about 25 grams of the stuff per day for a 100kg (220lb) bodybuilder, going off the absolute lowest dose. The highest dose would require 100g/day based on a 220lb (100kg)human bodyweight. However, this is based on human weight versus rodent weight. Now, if we convert the rodent dose to the human dose equivalent using the accepted body surface area formula bsa We find that we need just over 4 grams per day. And that’s at the lowest dose examined – we’d double that dose for the 500mgs/kg (over 8 grams per day) and double it again for the 1,000mgs/kg dose (over 16 grams per day).

So what he’s saying is that since the study uses very large amounts of Massularia acuminata, any potential increases in testosterone would be lost in humans.

But here’s the problem: In the study, the rats were administered only 1 ml of fluid constituted by a distilled extract of the amounts of powdered plant listed (0, 250 mg/kg bodyweight, 500 mg/kg BW, and 1000 mg/kg BW). This was simply a common extract of crushed massularia acuminata – nothing specific was extracted from the plant. They simply crushed it up, added it to water, and fed it to the mice. The heavier doses simply had more.

We know the above statements are true because of the preparation used in the study:

2.4. Preparation of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem

The plant stem was cut with a sterile knife into pieces and then oven-dried at 40 ◦C until a constant weight was obtained. The pieces were then pulverized with an electric blender (Blender/Miller III, model MS-223, China). The powdered material was stocked in a plastic container from which 200 go each was separately extracted in 500ml of distilled water for 48 he at room temperature with constant shaking. The extract was then filtered with filter paper (Whatman No. 1) and the resulting filtrate was concentrated on a steam bath to give between 5.48 and 5.60 g of the brownish black slurry (residue) which is equivalent to a % yield of 2.74±0.05 g. The residue was reconstituted in distilled water to give the required dose of 250 mg/kg body weight while higher doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight were also used. The reconstituted aqueous extract was administered orally to all animals in the various groups using metal oropharyngeal cannula.

So basically, the extract was very little more than pulverized plant distilled and concentrated in water. This means two things: 1. The rats were NOT ingesting 1000mg/kg of powder a day. They were ingesting a simple 1ml fluid corresponding to that dose. 2. The researchers didn’t identify nor extract for any particular parts of the massularia acuminata using any technological means. They had success with a plain old crushed plant!

However, this is not how USPLabs works. USP doesn’t just crush plants and toss them into capsules. They have identified the specific portions of massularia acuminata with androgenic potential and extracted them from the plant – meaning you don’t need to eat 16g of massularia to get the desired effects. Robbins fails to realize this. While we don’t know what specific percentage of massularia Pink Magic has been standardized to, USP has noted that they have extracted it.

So in the end, Robbins jumped the gun. He should try Pink Magic, take the blood tests, and see (and feel) the massularia acuminate for himself.

It’s time the detractors dealt with the facts. We have the Pink Magic Blood Tests. We have great Pink Magic Reviews. We have ridiculous Pink Magic Results. We have a fascinated community of USPLabs fans who are breaking lifting, sprinting, and other fitness PRs left and right – often while on a CUTTING diet!

And on the other side, we have nothing but haters who are secretly buying this stuff up left and right (trust me – I’ve seen their sales numbers). And they hate rightly so – USPLabs is threatening to other supplement companies who don’t like their no-fuss, simple, unique products.