Fadogia Agrestis
Also known as: Fadogia agrestis, Black aphrodisiac
Lower numbers = closer to natural. Higher numbers = more enhanced.
Why this rating?
A West African shrub (Fadogia agrestis, family Rubiaceae) traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and now marketed as a natural testosterone booster. Being honest and cautious: the "raises testosterone" claim comes ENTIRELY from rat studies. There is no human efficacy or safety data; a PubMed search for "Fadogia agrestis" still returns zero human trials. The same rodent research also flagged adverse effects on testicular, liver, and kidney function at these doses. It is not a hormone and does not require PCT, but the animal-toxicity signal with zero human safety data is the real story. Rated 1 as an unproven herbal supplement.
Overview
A traditional West African (notably Nigerian, where the Hausa name "bakin gagai" is often translated as "black aphrodisiac") plant used as an aphrodisiac, sold today, often stacked with Tongkat Ali, as a natural testosterone booster. Its reputation rests on rodent experiments showing increased blood testosterone and sexual behaviour; there are no human trials, and the same research group reported adverse effects on the testes, liver, and kidneys at the same doses in follow-up studies.
Purpose & Use Cases
Claimed Testosterone Boost
Marketed to raise testosterone: based solely on rat studies, with no human confirmation.
Aphrodisiac / Libido
Traditional aphrodisiac use; rodent studies showed increased sexual behaviour, but no human efficacy data.
Benefits
- Increased testosterone and sexual behaviour in rats (animal-only)
- Traditional aphrodisiac reputation
- Not an exogenous hormone: no aromatization, no PCT
Good to Know
The testosterone claim is rat-only, no human data
Every "boosts testosterone" claim traces back to rodent experiments (e.g. male rats given an aqueous stem extract showed dose-dependent rises in testosterone). There are no human trials for efficacy or safety, so the effect in people is genuinely unknown.
Animal studies flagged testicular, liver, and kidney toxicity
The same research group that reported the testosterone rise also found that 28 days of dosing produced adverse effects on rat testicular function, with recovery only at the lowest dose. A companion study at the same doses found oxidative-stress markers and altered liver/kidney enzyme activity (no overt organ damage or death was observed). That is a meaningful safety flag for organs this supplement is supposed to help or pass through, and it is why cautious cycling or avoidance is often advised.
Not a hormone, but "no PCT" is not the reassurance it sounds like
Fadogia is not an exogenous androgen and does not suppress the HPTA, so no PCT is needed. But the relevant risk here is not hormonal shutdown. It is the unstudied-in-humans toxicity, which "no PCT" does nothing to address.
Dosage Guidelines
| Experience Level | Dosage Range |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 100 – 300 mg/day |
| Intermediate | 300 – 600 mg/day |
| Advanced | 600 – 1200 mg/day |
CAUTION: these ranges reflect supplement-industry marketing and community protocols (e.g. the widely-cited ~300-600mg/day "standard" popularized by biohacking/podcast circles, with some commercial extracts sold up to 1200mg/serving), NOT a validated human dose, no human dosing or safety study exists. In rats, an aqueous stem extract at 18-100 mg/kg/day for 28 days produced adverse effects on testicular function (recovery seen only at the lowest, 18 mg/kg, dose) as well as oxidative-stress and liver/kidney enzyme changes at the same doses in a companion study. Community cycling protocols vary widely (commonly cited examples run roughly 4-8 weeks on with 1-2 weeks off). Treat this as precautionary, not evidence-based.
Side Effects
Testicular toxicity (animal data)
uncommonIn rats, 28 days of aqueous stem extract altered testicular function indices in a way the authors called "indications of adverse effects on the male rat testicular function." Permanent toxicity was not seen at the lowest dose (18 mg/kg), but higher/prolonged dosing is the concern. Whether this occurs in humans is unknown.
Do not megadose or run long, continuous courses; the safest choice given the data gap is caution or avoidance.
Liver & kidney oxidative stress (animal data)
uncommonA companion 28-day rat study by the same research group (same 18-100 mg/kg dose range) found raised oxidative-stress markers (serum malondialdehyde) and altered liver and kidney enzyme activity, attributed to lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. No overt organ damage, clinical toxicity symptoms, or mortality were reported. Human relevance is unknown.
Avoid megadosing or stacking with other hepatotoxic/nephrotoxic substances; periodic liver/kidney panels are a reasonable precaution for regular users.
Unknown human safety profile
commonThere is no human safety or toxicology data at all. Everything known comes from rodent studies.
Recognise the complete absence of human data before use.
Sourcing / purity risk
commonAn unregulated botanical supplement with variable content and possible adulteration.
Use third-party-tested product with a certificate of analysis.
General Mitigation Strategies
The honest position: Fadogia agrestis has an animal signal for testicular, liver, and kidney toxicity and NO human safety data. That combination warrants real caution: conservative use at most, avoidance if you want to be safe, and monitoring (including hormonal/testicular symptoms) if used at all. Do not treat "natural" as safe here.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Not an exogenous hormone and does not suppress the HPTA. No PCT required: but note the safety concern here is animal testicular/liver/kidney toxicity, not hormonal shutdown.
How It Works
In male rats, an aqueous stem extract dose-dependently raised blood testosterone concentration, which the researchers proposed as the mechanism behind its aphrodisiac and "masculine behaviour" effects. How (or whether) this translates to humans is unknown, no human pharmacology or trial data exists. It is not an androgen itself, does not aromatize, and does not act via exogenous hormone, so no PCT is involved; but "raises testosterone in rats" is not the same as a safe, effective human effect.
Fundamentals
Reference on the practices relevant to Fadogia Agrestis: how they are done and where they go wrong. Not a recommendation to use it.
WADA Status
Fadogia agrestis is a herbal supplement and is not listed on the WADA Prohibited List. Standard supplement contamination/adulteration caveats apply; the primary concern with this herb is toxicity, not doping status.