Suma herb health benefit by Ray Sahelian, M.D. supplement product
Suma extract is found in Passion Rx and Eyesight Rx formulas

Suma  is the dried root of a ground vine that grows in tropical rain forests of South America. Suma was introduced to this country as "Brazilian Ginseng" in order to capitalize on ginseng’s reputation. Suma is known as Para Toda which means "for all things," since the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have used the root of suma for generations as an energy and rejuvenating tonic as well as a general cure-all for many types of illnesses. Suma has also been used as an aphrodisiac. Taking a suma tablet daily does enhance energy levels.

Source Naturals
Buy Suma supplement, 500 mg

Suma herb is a member of the amaranth family and has been used for centuries among the native people of Brazil as a herb that provides more energy. Suma roots contain the important biological constituents pfaffic acid and pfaffosides.

Suma Supplement Facts:
Amount Per 2 tablets:
Suma Root (Pfaffia paniculata) - 1,000 mg*

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Suggested Use: 1 suma tablet in the morning.
* Suma supplement daily value not established.

The potent herbs in this potent aphrodisiac formula include Ashwagandha extract, Catuaba herb, Cistanches, Cnidium, Horny goat weed, Maca, Passion flower, Mucuna Pruriens, Muira Puama, Rhodiola, Shilajit, Suma, Tribulus, and Tongkat ali. Another version of Passion Rx is available without Yohimbe.

Suma side effects and cautions
Suma herb has not been associated with any serious adverse reactions. However, comprehensive safety studies have not been undertaken with this herbal product.

Suma ehrb research studies
Pfaffia paniculata ( suma ) induced changes in plasma estradiol-17beta, progesterone and testosterone levels in mice.
J Reprod Dev. 2003 Apr;49(2):175-80.
The present study undertook chemical analysis of components of Pfaffia paniculata roots ( suma herb ). In addition, an animal experiment was conducted in which mice had ad libitum access to water enriched with powdered suma root for 30 days. Changes in plasma concentrations of estradiol-17beta and progesterone in female mice and of testosterone in male mice were ascertained. The results revealed that suma roots contain two types of phytosteroids, beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, in addition to other compounds such as pfaffic acid, allantoin, saponins, beta-sitosteryl-beta-D-glucoside, and stigmasteryl-beta-D-glucoside. Regarding changes in plasma concentrations of hormones, levels of the sex hormones estradiol-17beta, progesterone and testosterone were clearly higher for mice that drank suma root enriched water than for mice that drank plain water. Powdered suma root is easily dissolved in feed or water, and as no adverse reactions were seen in mice within 30 days of oral intake, consumption of suma root for long periods of time appears safe.

Suma and cancer
Effect of Pfaffia paniculata ( suma ) on the Ehrlich tumor in its ascitic form.
Life Sci. 2003 Dec 19;74(5):573-9.
The roots of suma (Brazilian ginseng) have been indicated for the treatment of several diseases, among which the cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate experimentally the possible antineoplastic effect of the suma root. Firstly, a toxicity study was performed in which the doses of 400 and 200 mg/Kg of the powdered suma root were administered by gavage for 10 days to mice. The mice did not lose weight during the treatment. No increase in serum alanine-aminotransferase neither histopathological alteration (liver, kidney and spleen) was observed in mice treated with suma. The effect of this root on the ascitic Ehrlich tumor in BALB/cICB mice was then investigated. Male mice received, by gavage, once a day, 200 mg/Kg of the powdered root of suma or distilled water, as control, for 20 days. This protocol started 10 days before tumor inoculation and lasted until 10 days after. A decrease in the total ascitic volume was observed in suma treated mice, that was followed by a numerical decrease in the total number of Ehrlich tumor cells. These results may indicate that suma anti-inflammatory effects were responsible by the decrease in the total ascitic fluid. In addition, the presence of tumor-cell inhibitory factors in suma roots is in agreement with other in vitro studies. The mechanisms of such tumor inhibition should be further investigated. 

Suma aphrodisiac benefit
Stimulating property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata ( suma ) extracts on the sexual-behavior of male rats.
Arletti R. ection of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999 Mar;143(1):15-9.
Sexually potent and sexually sluggish/impotent male rats were treated orally with different amounts of Turnera diffusa and suma fluid extracts. While having no effect on the copulatory behavior of sexually potent rats, both plant extracts--singly or in combination--improved the copulatory performance of sexually sluggish/impotent rats. The highest dose of either extract increased the percentage of rats achieving ejaculation and significantly reduced mount, intromission and ejaculation latencies, post-ejaculatory interval and intercopulatory interval. Neither extract affected locomotor activity. These results seem to support the folk reputation of suma and damiana as sexual stimulants.

Suma supplement emails
Q. The combination of maca herb and suma supplements helped me get through menopause. I feel great, I am 51 and postmenopausal, these herbs gave me my life back.
   Q. I am having a real problem trying to decide how to buy suma root. Every company I contact is telling me that theirs is best. Do I buy a powder from Rain Tree that says their powder is pure but cant tell me how many mg are in one teaspoon. Another company has it in liquid form with alcohol and one without alcohol. The one without alcohol is saying 1 drop is equal to 2000 mg. Another one with alcohol is saying that maybe 30 drops is equal to 2500 mg. I am trying to use it with my bodybuilding supplements to use as a an anabolic boost. I was hoping you could tell me which way to go and which will give me 2500 mg a day. I am totally confused.
   A. There is little research with suma supplement to know which is best. One option is to take a 500 mg suma supplement for a few days and then increase the dosage or decrease it based on how you feel. Until one tries different dosages and different products, it is difficult to guess which dosage, form, or product will work best.

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This suma research page was last updated January 2008.