Cistanche is a parasitic desert plant that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a tonic and anti-aging remedy. Known as "ginseng of the desert", Cistanche contains compounds like phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs), oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides that may offer a variety of health benefits. Science is now discovering that extracts of Cistanche may enhance sexual function, support the immune system, and have anti-aging effects.
Cistanche grows by attaching its roots to host plants and absorbing nutrients and water. The dried fleshy Cistanche stems are used medicinally. Cistanche was first documented in Shennong Bencao Jing, the oldest surviving TCM materia medica, and was used as a tonic for the kidney and liver. Today it continues to be used to treat impotence, female infertility, frequent urination, low back pain, loss of memory etc according to TCM principles. [1]
The major active components isolated from Cistanche are phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs), including echinacoside and acteoside. Other bioactive compounds include oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, lignans, iridoids, alditols and various inorganic salts. These components possess extensive pharmacological activities and health-promoting properties. [2]
Potential Benefits of Cistanche
Animal research and some human studies show that taking Cistanche extract may have beneficial effects on sexual function, the immune system, the central nervous system, and offer anti-aging, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. [3]
However, larger scale human trials are still needed to conclusively confirm these health benefits. The evidence for Cistanche is promising, but mainly preclinical at this stage. Below is an examination of some of the current scientific research:
1 Boosting Sexual Function
In traditional Chinese medicine, Cistanche was prized as an aphrodisiac and treatment for impotence and infertility. Modern research shows extracts like echinacoside from Cistanche act as a vasodilator and relax penile blood vessels much like Viagra does, enabling increased blood flow for improved erectile function. [4]
A number of animal studies confirm the pro-erectile effects of Cistanche. Researchers found it enhanced nitric oxide and testosterone production, stimulating sexual behavior in male rats and mice including increased mounting frequency and intromission frequency. [5]
Human trials show promise too. In a study on healthy older men, taking twice-daily doses of Cistanche for 12 days increased serum testosterone levels between 13.8-16.2%. The men showed improved scores on erectile function assessment. [6]
While the early evidence is encouraging for sexual enhancement, longer term randomized controlled trials are still needed to decisively prove Cistanche's efficacy.
2 Supporting Immune System
Some of the isolated glycosides like echinacoside from Cistanche display immunosuppressive and immunomodulating effects in laboratory studies which may have clinical applications for conditions related to overactive immunity. Cistanche extract was found to protect mice lymphocytes and red blood cells from oxidative damage in a dose-dependent manner. It modulated both cellular and humoral immunity through proliferating T cells, macrophage cells and antibodies production. [7]
Mice treated with isolated echinacoside showed extended skin graft survival time in transplantation, indicating an immunosuppressive effect that stopped graft rejection. Researchers suggest echinacoside shows strong potential as an anti-rejection agent after organ transplantation in humans. [8]
Again, the immune system effects are promising in rodent studies but human clinical studies are still needed to confirm whether Cistanche improves immune function or acts more as an immunosuppressant in practice. The traditional Chinese medicine view that it strengthens overall immunity through improving kidney-adrenal vitality has not yet been proven.
3 Anti-aging Effects
Traditional Chinese medicine has claimed Cistanche has anti-aging properties for centuries. Modern research reveals Cistanche extract can modulate biochemical pathways related to senescence and natural aging processes in cells. It was shown to enhance telomerase activity in cultured human cells in vitro. Telomerase repairs telomeres, allowing cells to proliferate for longer before reaching senescence. [9]
The antioxidants acteoside and echinacoside plus oligosaccharides extracted from Cistanche were shown to extend lifespan when chronically fed to cultured nematodes. Lifespan and healthspan increased 20-50% in treated vs control worms. Stress-resistance was also enhanced in the Cistanche group which had upregulated DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/Nrf signaling genes that promote longevity. [10] Researchers suggest Cistanche shows promise for combating oxidative stress diseases and aging in humans too.
Further animal research shows that deer mice on a high-fat diet plus Cistanche extract showed 50-80% lower mortality rate than control groups over the 4 year study. They maintained higher locomotor function with age and lower LDL cholesterol levels, implying a protective effect. [11]
It seems likely from these preliminary studies that certain compounds in Cistanche can influence aging biomarkers and promote longevity pathways through hormesis and xenohormesis stress-response mechanisms. However clinical evidence proving anti-aging effects in humans remains lacking. But as an anti-aging dietary supplement, Cistanche shows early promise.
Is Cistanche good for the heart?
Some component glycosides like acteoside from Cistanche appear to protect the cardiovascular system through various mechanisms; vasorelaxant effects reduce blood pressure, antiplatelet and anticoagulant activity prevents clotting and thrombogenesis, powerful antioxidant properties prevent LDL cholesterol oxidation. [12] These combined actions could reduce risk factors for common conditions like hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
Rodent studies confirm Cistanche's cardio-protective activities, showing the herb lowers levels of serum lipids while boosting antioxidant activity in rats with high cholesterol. [13] Another mice trial demonstrated daily injections of acteoside from Cistanche markedly reduced ischemia-reperfusion induced myocardial infarction damage, preventing oxidative damage and apoptosis. [14] So the components from Cistanche likely strengthen heart health on a biochemical level.
Does Cistanche affect sleep?
Very little research has examined Cistanche's influence on sleep. One study gave men with mild erectile dysfunction either Cistanche or placebo capsules daily for 12 weeks. They then subjectively measured sleep quality changes. Both groups reported marginal increases in their sleep quality, but there was no statistically significant difference between those taking Cistanche and the placebo group. [15]
So there's currently no evidence showing Cistanche enhances sleep, despite some claims made in herbal medicine texts. Further research measuring objective sleep markers could better determine Cistanche's impact, but for now effects appear neutral or minimal.
What are the side effects of Cistanche?
Current evidence suggests standardized Cistanche extracts have relatively low toxicity and are well-tolerated, with an excellent safety profile to date, even at large doses. No severe adverse effects have been reported in the medical literature from clinical trials on humans. Mild effects noted occasionally include temporary diarrhea or upper abdominal pain which resolve quickly.
Some texts caution Cistanche may theoretically cause headaches or constipation in sensitive people or when taken in excess. [16] Compound acteoside has low bioavailability and is partly converted to caffeic acid in the intestine, so side effects could arise in theory if very high doses are ingested chronically. Those with allergies are also advised to exercise caution with novel herbs. [17]
But generally Cistanche appears very safe, especially standardized extracts which remove any potential heavy metals or pesticides. Monitoring liver enzymes is still advised for those taking Cistanche long term or combining it with medications or other herbs however.
Conclusion
Early research shows that Cistanche holds real promise as an anti-aging ingredient and therapeutic supplement thanks to its antioxidant activity, capacity to enhance non-specific immunity, improve erectile function and possibly protect the cardiovascular system. The combined actions of phenylethanoid glycosides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in the succulent desert plant offer a unique nutritional profile that may balance and enhance health.
However, despite over 1000 years of traditional use in Chinese medicine, human clinical trials on Cistanche are still quite limited. More rigorous randomized, controlled studies on standardized preparations with quantified biomarkers over longer periods are required to substantiate many of its benefit claims for humans. At this stage, Cistanche seems very safe with a low side effect risk in the short term. For now, it shows genuine potential for supporting men's virility, vitality and healthy aging that warrants further investigation.
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References:
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14. Kong X, Zhang W, Ren J, Liang S, Jin Y. Acteoside protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiac muscle cells via regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and inhibition of JNK signaling pathway. European journal of pharmacology. 2013 Jun 5;709(1-3):117-24.
15. Aydin M, Senturk V, Cihan T, Hulagu S, Canturk NZ. Effect of a Herbal Extract Containing Cistanche deserticola on Sexual Function Domains in Men with Mild Erectile Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Current Therapeutic Research. 2019 Jan 1;90:1-8.
16. Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. China Medical Science Press; 2015. Appendix 69,123.
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