Growing Tall with Protodioscin

A recent height increase formula has been proposed that features horny goat weed and tribulus terristris. It's recommended by the supporters of the formula that you take the methylated versions of protodioscin and icariin due to increased purity.  What is it about Protodioscin that could help us in our efforts of growing tall?


Proerectile pharmacological effects of Tribulus terrestris extract on the rabbit corpus cavernosum.

"The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of oral treatment of Tribulus terrestris (TT) extract on the isolated corpus cavernosal tissue of New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits and to determine the mechanism by which protodioscin (PTN), a constituent of the TT, exerts its pharmacological effects.
Twenty-four NZW rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups of 6 each. Group I served as control. Groups II to IV were treated with the extract at different dose levels, i.e. 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The TT extract was administered orally, once daily, for a period of 8 weeks. The rabbits were then sacrificed and their penile tissue isolated to evaluate the responses to both contracting and relaxing pharmacological agents and electrical field stimulation (EFS).
PTN on its own had no effect on the isolated corpus cavernosal strips. The relaxant responses to EFS, acetylcholine and nitroglycerin in noradrenaline precontracted tissues from treated groups showed an increase in relaxation of a concentration dependent nature compared to that of the tissues from control group. However, the contractile, anti-erectile response of corpus cavernosal tissue to noradrenaline and histamine showed no significant change between the treatment and the control groups.
 The relaxant responses to acetylcholine, nitroglycerin and EFS by more than 10%, 24% and 10% respectively compared to their control values and the lack of such effect on the contractile response to noradrenaline and histamine indicate that PTN has a proerectile activity. The enhanced relaxant effect observed is probably due to increase in the release of nitric oxide from the endothelium and nitrergic nerve endings, which may account for its claims as an aphrodisiac. "

Nitric Oxide increases guanyl cyclase levels. Guanyl cyclase is needed for optimal C-type natruiretic peptide response.  CNP promotes chondrocyte proliferation.


The hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris and its role in the management of male erectile dysfunction--an evaluation using primates, rabbit and rat.

"Hormonal effects of Tribulus terrestris (TT) were evaluated in primates, rabbit and rat to identify its usefulness in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED). TT extract was administered intravenously, as a bolus dose of 7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg, in primates for acute study. Rabbits and normal rats were treated with 2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg of TT extract orally for 8 weeks, for chronic study. In addition, castrated rats were treated either with testosterone cypionate (10mg/kg, subcutaneously; biweekly for 8 weeks) or TT orally (5mg/kg daily for 8 weeks). Blood samples were analyzed for testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) levels using radioimmunoassay. In primates, the increases in T (52%), DHT (31%) and DHEAS (29%) at 7.5mg/kg were statistically significant. In rabbits, both T and DHT were increased compared to control, however, only the increases in DHT (by 30% and 32% at 5 and 10mg/kg) were statistically significant. In castrated rats, increases in T levels by 51% and 25% were observed with T and TT extract respectively that were statistically significant. TT increases some of the sex hormones, possibly due to the presence of protodioscin in the extract. TT may be useful in mild to moderate cases of ED."

Testosterone inhibits myostatin which inhibits cellular proliferation so that's another possible height increase benefit for protodioscin.

Tribulus Terrestris is available for sale:Tribulus Terrestris -- Natural Testosterone Booster -- 40% Saponins & Protodioscin -- 60 x 750mg Capsules.  I'm not sure how effective it is versus other Nitric Oxide boosters.  There's not a lot of info on protodioscin and Tribulus Terrestris, maybe the developer of the protodioscin + icariin formula know something that other scientists don't?  If you take a Nitric Oxide Booster, it's important that you also supplement with Folic Acid(Folic Acid) to help prevent DNA damage.

Tribulus Terrestris is not really as promising as other compounds as there are not direct studies linking Tribulus Terrestris to chondrogenic differentiation.