Research Snapshot
Black Ginger
A synthesis of the peer-reviewed evidence for Black Ginger across physical energy, fat loss, libido and metabolism, graded by scientific consensus and reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Board.
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Physical EnergyDoes Kaempferia parviflora improve physical performance?
Evidence from 12 studies
What the research shows
Kaempferia parviflora appears to improve physical performance, particularly endurance and muscle strength, through mechanisms involving enhanced antioxidant capacity, energy metabolism, and mitochondrial biogenesis. While chronic supplementation shows promise, acute effects may be limited, and further research is needed to fully understand its benefits across different populations and exercise types.
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Journal of Dietary Supplements | B. Sripanidkulchai et al. | 6 | 2020
Randomized Control Trial (RCT)
Kaempferia parviflora extract significantly increased muscle strength, endurance, and speed, but not flexibility and agility.
Nutrients | Jiapeng Huang et al. | 2 | 2022
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial , Very Rigorous Journal
A single dose of black ginger extract significantly improves endurance capacity in mice by enhancing energy metabolism and substrate utilization in muscles and liver.
Food Science & Nutrition | Susumu Yoshino et al. | 43 | 2014
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial
Kaempferia parviflora extract suppresses obesity by increasing energy metabolism through activation of brown adipose tissue in mice.
Heliyon | K. Toda et al. | 41 | 2016
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial
Black ginger extract increases physical fitness performance and muscular endurance by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK).
Fat LossDoes Black Ginger Extract support fat loss?
Evidence from 8 studies
What the research shows
Overall, black ginger extract supports fat loss by enhancing lipolysis, suppressing adipogenesis, improving energy metabolism, and regulating circadian rhythms. These effects collectively contribute to reduced body weight and fat accumulation, suggesting its potential as a body composition support agent.
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Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM | Sunkyu Lee et al. | 16 | 2018
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial , Rigorous Journal
Standardized Kaempferia parviflora extract (KPE) effectively reduces obesity and muscle atrophy in ob/ob mice by inhibiting fat accumulation and enhancing muscle function.
Food & Nutrition Research | Hyun Sook Lee et al. | 0 | 2023
Randomized Control Trial (RCT) , Animal Trial
Kaempferia parviflora rhizome extract (KPE) shows anti-obesity effects in high-fat diet-induced obese mice by regulating adipogenesis and lipolysis pathways.
Journal of Nutritional Health & Food Science | M. Miyazaki et al. | 3 | 2019
In Vivo Experiement
KP's anti-obesity effect is attributed to normalizing leptin function and inhibiting fat accumulation by thermogenesis in brown adipocytes.
Journal of Natural Medicines | K. Toda et al. | 35 | 2016
In Vitro Trial
Black ginger extract enhances energy metabolism in myocytes, which may improve muscle metabolism dysfunction related to metabolic syndrome and fat loss.
LibidoDoes Black Ginger improve sexual health?
Evidence from 11 studies
What the research shows
Kaempferia parviflora extract appears to have beneficial effects on sexual health, particularly in improving erectile function and enhancing sexual performance. These effects are likely due to its action as a PDE5 inhibitor and its ability to increase blood flow and dopaminergic activity. While generally safe, caution is advised with high doses. Further research, especially long-term and placebo-controlled studies, is needed to fully understand its efficacy and safety profile.
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Journal of Integrative Medicine | R. Stein et al. | 18 | 2018
Non-Randomized Control Trial
Kaempferia parviflora ethanol extract may improve erectile function in healthy middle-aged and older men.
The FASEB Journal | Steven P. Hirsh et al. | 0 | 2017
Non-Randomized Control Trial
Kaempferia parviflora extract may enhance sexual health by improving endothelial function, enhancing penile circumference, length, and rigidity, and increasing blood flow.
Reproduction | G. Chaturapanich et al. | 76 | 2008
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial , Highly Cited
Alcohol extract of Kaempferia parviflora has an aphrodisiac activity, likely due to increased blood flow to the testis, without affecting fertility or sperm motility in male rats.
Andrologia | T. Lert-Amornpat et al. | 31 | 2017
Randomized Control Trial (RCT) , Animal Trial
Kaempferia parviflora exhibits aphrodisiac properties, improving sperm density, testosterone level, and sexual performance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats without affecting body weight, blood glucose, or food intake.
MetabolismDoes Kaempferia parviflora enhance energy metabolism?
Evidence from 14 studies
What the research shows
Kaempferia parviflora enhances energy metabolism through multiple pathways, including mitochondrial biogenesis, activation of brown adipose tissue, and improved substrate utilization. These effects contribute to increased energy expenditure, improved exercise performance, and potential benefits in supporting healthy weight and metabolic function.
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Nutrients | Jiapeng Huang et al. | 2 | 2022
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial , Very Rigorous Journal
Black ginger extract (KPE) improves endurance capacity by enhancing energy metabolism and substrate utilization in muscles and liver.
Heliyon | K. Toda et al. | 41 | 2016
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial
Black ginger extract improves physical fitness performance and muscular endurance by reducing inflammation and increasing energy metabolism through the activation of AMPK in muscle cells.
Journal of Natural Medicines | K. Toda et al. | 35 | 2016
In Vitro Trial
Black ginger extract enhances energy metabolism in myocytes, improving glucose, lactic acid, and lipid utilization, and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis.
Food Science & Nutrition | Susumu Yoshino Et. Al. | 4 Citations, 1 Influential Citations | 2014
Non-Randomized Control Trial , Animal Trial , In Vivo Experiment
Kaempferia parviflora extract suppresses obesity by increasing energy metabolism through activation of brown adipose tissue in mice.
Reviewed by Experts
Every research snapshot is checked by our independent Scientific Advisory Board: physicians, botanists and pharmacology researchers who verify the evidence grading and its interpretation.
Kerry Hughes
M.Sc., RH(AHG), FDN-P
Ethnobotanist & herbalist; Berkeley Herbal Center; principal at EthnoPharm.
View full profile →Lance Dreher
PhD, Nutritional Counseling
Performance nutrition & conditioning; four decades of applied training science.
View full profile →Dr. Lindsey Faucette
DO, FAAFP
Board-certified in Family & Integrative Medicine; Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
View full profile →Francisco Chacon
PhD, Plant Biology
Botanical natural products & phytochemistry researcher, Penn State University.
View full profile →Meet the full Scientific Advisory Board →
How We Grade Consensus
For each benefit we retrieve the relevant peer-reviewed literature and classify every study by whether its findings support (Yes), partially or conditionally support (Possibly), or do not support (No) the claim. The donut shows the share of studies in each category; N is the number of studies analyzed for that benefit.
Grades reflect the weight and direction of the current evidence, not a guarantee of outcome, and the interpretation is verified by the Scientific Advisory Board.