Review: ALRI Jungle Warfare
Note: Jungle Warfare has been discontinued.
“Jungle Warfare™ combines very carefully engineered herbal compounds that have been selected for their specific effect on key components of the anabolic process within the body. These specific ingredients work synergistically to impact the body’s anabolic pathways and optimize lean muscle acquisition without hormonal down-regulation. ALR Industries has created a unique proprietary extraction process that results in high-potency yields of the unique AR agonists and pro-hypertrophic substrates found in each of these herbs. The result is a synergistic Pro-Hypertrophic Matrix from ALR Industries that guarantees results!”
I’ll say one thing for the write up on Jungle Warfare: at least it avoids the “rock ’em, sock ’em,” Marvel Comics-inspired adjectives common to so many other bodybuilding supplement ads. “Synergistic Pro-Hypertrophic Matrix” may also seem a little out there, but at least it’s more subdued—and testable—than the usual (outlandish) claims.
So, does Jungle Warfare actually exert “specific effects on key components of the anabolic process”? Do the ingredients really work together synergistically to support lean mass gains?
A look at the label will tell us more…
Serving Size 1 Capsule
Servings Per Container 90Pro-Hypertrophic Proprietary Matrix: 250mg
Proprietary Mormordica Chirantia Extract
Conjugated (-) 3.4-Divanillyl Tetrahydrofuran, 17a-Methyl-5a- Dehydro-Etiocholan-4,6-Dien-3-One-17-Ol
Proprietary Conjugated Coleonol Extract
As noted above, Jungle Warfare is—mostly—an herbal supplement, and a fairly simple one at that: it contains only 4 compounds. These are…
Momordica chirantia extract: Momordica chirantia is known as “bitter melon” or “bitter gourd” and is used as both a food and traditional medicine in Asia/Southeast Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Bitter melon has hypoglycemic effects, due to the ability of various components to inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity (which slows carbohydrate digestion), improve insulin signalling and reduce insulin resistance. Other elements have anti-tumor and anti-viral activity.
Interestingly enough, the seed extracts exerted androgenic effects in rats, but there is no data demonstrating similar effects on humans. Similarly, there are no studies demonstrating bitter melon can enhance lean mass gains, although its effects on insulin could possibly be helpful.
Conjugated (-) 3.4-Divanillyl Tetrahydrofuran: -(-)3,4-Divanillyltetrahydrofuran is a lignan isolated from “Stinging Nettle” (Urtica dioica)—an herb used as an alternative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In-vitro research has shown it can bind tightly to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), so theoretically, it has the potential to increase bioavailable (free) testosterone. There are no human—or even animal—studies, however, so at this point, the ability of oral -(-)3,4-Divanillyltetrahydrofuran to enhance free testosterone is purely speculative.
17a-Methyl-5a-Dehydro-Etiocholan-4,6-Dien-3-One-17-Ol: ALRI identifies this compound as ADED, a non-androgenic metabolite of ATD (1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione)—an aromatase inhibitor (AI) found in certain bodybuilding supplements, such as Novedex XT. ALRI claims ADED is both a milder and more bioavailable AI than ATD, although there is no independent data to confirm this. Nonetheless, it’s been established that aromatase inhibition can improve serum testosterone levels, so this is an obvious pathway for Jungle Warfare to exert effects on testosterone, and—potentially—lean mass gains.
Proprietary Conjugated Coleonol Extract: “Coleonol” is simply an older term for “forskolin” a diterpenoid compound extracted from the Ayurvedic medicinal plant, Coleus forskohlii. Forskolin stimulates the production of cAMP, a “second messenger” which, in turn, can enhance lipolysis and boost testosterone production. This was demonstrated in a 12-week study on overweight/obese men given a standardized extract (Forslean). While the results weren’t radical, Forslean supplementation resulted in modest improvements in the subjects’ body composition and serum/free testosterone levels.
So there we have it…
I have to admit, the formula for Jungle Warfare looks interesting, albeit quite speculative. The lack of solid supporting data is troubling, but the potential is there.
Assuming that the first three compounds are biologically active and provided in useful doses, it’s conceivable that Jungle Warfare could make good on ALRI’s claims for it.
At least in theory…
Of course, it’s real-world results that matter the most. In the absence of any hard data on the supplement itself, I decided to give it a whirl.
Even though Jungle Warfare is ostensibly a “guy” supplement, the FAQs on ALRI’s site indicate it can be taken by women as well as men. I saw nothing in the formula to be uncomfortable with, so I took the full dose of 3 caps/day (I’m past my reproductive “prime,” after all…however, women of childbearing age/inclinations would be wise to take a reduced dose per ALRI’s recommendations).
Needless to state, I experienced no obvious side effects. In fact, I actually gained approx. 3 pounds and added 5+ pounds to my bench over the month I took it. Of course, I’ve been actively working on my bench for the last two months… my progress was steady before taking the supplement, so it’s tough to give Jungle Warfare full credit for the improvement.
Likewise, I think I look slightly more “filled out” and defined…but once again, this is the continuation of a trend. Thus, while my experience was positive, it’s hard to tease out precisely what contribution(s)—if any—were made by the supplement.
So whither Jungle Warfare?
Given my experience, as well as the rather hypothetical nature of the formula, I have a hard time giving it an unequivocal “thumbs up.” I do, however, feel it has potential. Purchased online through a vendor such as bodybuilding.com (our recommended online retailer), it’s not overly expensive; and overall, user feedback is good.
If you’re interested in experimenting with something beyond the basics, Jungle Warfare could be worth a look. It’s available at BodyBuilding.com.
