Evidence supporting the use of: Rubiaceae
For the health condition: Energy (lack of)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
The use of plants from the Rubiaceae family to support or treat lack of energy is primarily based on traditional medicine practices. The Rubiaceae family is large and diverse, including well-known genera such as Coffea (coffee) and Paullinia (though the latter is actually Sapindaceae), but focusing on Rubiaceae specifically, Coffea (coffee) and Cinchona (source of quinine) are notable. Coffee contains caffeine, a well-documented stimulant that increases alertness and temporarily reduces perceived fatigue, which explains its traditional use worldwide to improve energy levels. The energizing effects have been recognized for centuries in various cultures, from the Middle East to Europe and beyond, primarily through the consumption of coffee beverages.
However, outside of coffee, the evidence for other Rubiaceae members supporting energy is more limited and mostly anecdotal or based on traditional uses. Scientific validation for energy-boosting effects is strong for caffeine but less established for other secondary metabolites present in the family. Thus, while the use of Rubiaceae plants to support energy is justified by a combination of traditional knowledge and, in the case of caffeine, strong scientific evidence, many other Rubiaceae species have little or no documentation for this specific use.
Overall, the tradition of using Rubiaceae (especially Coffea) for lack of energy is well-established, but scientific support is robust only for caffeine-containing species. The overall evidence for the entire family is rated as moderate (2/5), primarily bolstered by coffee.
Other ingredients used for Energy (lack of)
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione7-Keto-DHEA
Acai berry
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
adenosine 5-triphosphate disodium (ATP)
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Agastache
Akebia
Algae
Algal protein
Almond fruit
Alpha D-ribofuranose
Alpha polylactate
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
alpinia galangal
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
animal protein
antler
Aralia
Ardisia
Areca
arginine creatine
Arginine malate
Arginine silicate
ashwagandha
aspartic acid
atractylone
ba ji tian
banana
baobab
bee pollen
Beef liver
berry
beta phenethylalamine
beta-alanine
beta-hydroxybutyrate
biotin
black ginger
black pepper
blackthorn
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
bovine protein
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
catecholamine
chia seed
Chlorophytum
chuchuhuasi
Cinnamomum
cistanche
coca
coconut
coconut milk
coconut oil
Codonopsis
Coenzyme A
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coffee fruit
cola nut
commiphora
cordyceps
creatine monohydrate
curcumen
Cynomorium
D-Ribose
deer root
deer velvet
Dendrobium
dextrates
dextrose
dragonhead
ecdysterone
egg
Egg protein
electrolytes blend (proprietary)
eleuthero
elk antler
ephedrine
Erodium cicutarium
Ethyl-Alpha-Guanido-Methyl-Ethanoate
Eurycoma Longifolia
eurycomanone
folate
fungus
gamma-butyrobetaine
garden cress
ginseng
glucose
GMS-ribose
greens blend (proprietary)
guarana
Guaranine
guayusa
Herb Robert
Higenamine
Ilex
jiaogulan
jungli-bean
ketone salts
ketosterones
kola nut
L-alanyl-L-glutamine
l-carnitine
L-glutamine
L-glycine
L-leucine
l-tyrosine
lemongrass
lipids
maca
macaenes
macamides
magnesium
malic acid
maral root
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Methylliberine
Microbial enzymes (proprietary)
Milk
Milk Protein
Ming Dang Shen
Mushroom
Nettle
Orchis latifolia
ornithine L-aspartic acid
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
oxaloacetic acid
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
paraxanthine
peanut
Petiveria
Phytoecdysteroid
Plankton
pollen
Polygonatum
protein
Pseudostellaria
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
Rhodiola
ribose
robusta coffee
rosemary
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Safed musli
sage
Sarivan
shiitake mushroom
Sichuan Lovage
Sida cordifolia
siler root
Southern Tsangshu
Sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
succinic acid
Sulbutiamine
suma
sweet flag
Synephrine
Tea
Teacrine
Terminalia
Theacrine
Theobromine
Thylakoid
Tongkat ali
trace minerals
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
vegetable blend (proprietary)
velvet bean
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
Wheat
wheat germ
Whey protein
Wulinshen
Yerba mate
Yuzu
Zedoary
Zinc
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by Rubiaceae
AnemiaAppetite (deficient)
Arthritis
Asthma
Backache
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cuts
Depression
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dyspepsia
Edema
Energy (lack of)
Fatigue
Fever
Gastritis
Gonorrhea
Headache (general)
Headache (tension)
Hypertension
Inflammation
Insomnia
Jaundice (adults)
Liver Detoxification
Memory and Brain Function
Migraine
Nausea and Vomiting
Pain (general remedies for)
PMS (general)
