Tribulus and horny goat weed (epimedium) are on the Maxforce jar label but not on the sales page list. A 2014 review found tribulus does not raise testosterone in humans. Horny goat weed and its compound icariin have no human trials for sexual function, and heart-rhythm effects are reported. Both sit in an 82 mg blend, amounts not published.
Two famous herbs with thin human evidence.
They are two traditional "male" herbs. Both are listed on the Maxforce jar label, inside the 82 mg Proprietary Blend. Flip each card for a short research summary.
A spiky ground plant, also called puncture vine. It is used in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine and sold for testosterone and drive.
Tap to see the research ↻A 2014 review found it does not raise testosterone in humans (Qureshi et al., 2014). Men's trials on other outcomes show mixed results (OPSS Tribulus, 2024).
Tap to flip back ↺A leafy plant from China. Its main compound is icariin. The odd name comes from an old story about goats grazing on it.
Tap to see the research ↻There are no human trials of horny goat weed for sexual problems (MSKCC Epimedium, 2023). Heart-rhythm effects have been reported.
Tap to flip back ↺Neither herb has a printed amount on the label. Neither has been tested in Maxforce. And neither appears on the sales page's ingredient list, which the next section explains.
Nine on the jar, five on the website.
The sales page lists five ingredients. The jar label lists nine. Tribulus and horny goat weed are two of the four left off the sales page, along with caffeine and green tea extract. The label is the legal ingredient list, so go by the label.
Label vs sales page: the nine blend ingredients
| Ingredient | Jar label | Sales page |
|---|---|---|
| Muira puama | Listed | Listed |
| Maca | Listed | Listed |
| Catuaba | Listed | Listed |
| Ashwagandha | Listed | Listed |
| L-arginine | Listed | Listed |
| Tribulus terrestris | Listed | Not listed |
| Horny goat weed | Listed | Not listed |
| Green tea extract | Listed | Not listed |
| Caffeine (5 mg) | Listed | Not listed |
The four missing ones are the ingredients with heart-rate, liver or stimulant cautions. That is worth knowing before you buy. Our label vs sales page page covers every gap.
The most famous testosterone herb fails the human test.
No, not in humans. A 2014 review of human and animal studies concluded: "Evidence to date suggests that TT is ineffective for increasing testosterone levels in humans" (Qureshi et al., 2014). TT is short for Tribulus terrestris.
Testosterone went up only in studies where tribulus was one part of a combined supplement. That means something else in the mix was likely doing the work, if anything was. The OPSS summary agrees: men's trials show mixed results, and "No strong evidence supports the marketed claims" (OPSS Tribulus, 2024).
Tribulus claims vs evidence
| Claim you may see | What the evidence shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Raises testosterone | Not in humans when taken alone | Qureshi et al., 2014 |
| Lifts drive | Mixed results in men; no strong evidence | OPSS Tribulus, 2024 |
| Builds muscle or strength | Marketed claims lack strong support | OPSS Tribulus, 2024 |
| Safe at any dose | Side effects reported above 1,000 mg a day | OPSS Tribulus, 2024 |
Maxforce does not claim to raise testosterone, and this site will not say it does. If you think your testosterone is low, a blood test is the way to find out. See the male vitality guide.
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A lab idea that has not been tested in men.
Icariin is the compound most studied in horny goat weed. It draws interest because lab work suggests it acts on PDE5, the same enzyme that prescription ED pills block. But lab results are not human results, and there are no human trials of horny goat weed for sexual problems (MSKCC Epimedium, 2023).
In test tubes, icariin acts on the PDE5 enzyme.
Marketers jump from that to "works like an ED pill".
No human trial shows horny goat weed helps sexual function.
The Maxforce label lists horny goat weed but no icariin amount.
OPSS reaches the same conclusion: there is a lack of human research to back sexual-health or performance claims (OPSS, Horny goat weed, 2024). The plant may be famous, but fame is not evidence.
Heart rhythm is the caution that matters most.
Both herbs carry reported side effects. Most reports come from larger amounts than a share of 82 mg, but the cautions still apply to anyone with a heart condition.
Reported side effects and cautions
| Herb | Reported effects | Who should avoid or ask first | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribulus | Trouble sleeping, tiredness, raised heart rate above 1,000 mg a day; rare severe liver and kidney damage | Anyone with liver or kidney disease | OPSS Tribulus, 2024 |
| Horny goat weed | Rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, mood changes | Heart disease; hormone-sensitive cancers | MSKCC Epimedium, 2023 |
| Horny goat weed | Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, stomach upset | Anyone with heart symptoms | OPSS, Horny goat weed, 2024 |
| Horny goat weed | May interact with CYP3A4 drugs and aromatase inhibitors | Anyone on regular prescription medicine | MSKCC Epimedium, 2023 |
The Maxforce side effects page lists cautions for all nine ingredients in one place.
The bigger risk in this aisle is what is not on the label.
Yes, some have. FDA has found horny goat weed products adulterated with tadalafil, sildenafil or avanafil, which are prescription ED drugs (OPSS, Horny goat weed, 2024). Across the whole category, 353 of 776 tainted supplements flagged by FDA were sold for sexual enhancement, and 47% of those held sildenafil (Tucker et al., 2018).
Hidden ED drugs are dangerous for men on nitrates, because the mix can drop blood pressure sharply (FDA public notification, 2021). No independent lab test for Maxforce has been published. Buy only through the real checkout and keep your order email.
Big names, small evidence, unknown amounts.
Not on current evidence. Tribulus does not raise testosterone in humans, and horny goat weed has no human trials for sexual function. At a share of 82 mg, a meaningful effect is unlikely.
If you still want to try Maxforce, you are buying the whole formula, not these two herbs. Start with the ingredients overview, check the heart cautions above and take one gummy a day as the label says.
Not in humans, based on current evidence. A 2014 review concluded that tribulus "is ineffective for increasing testosterone levels in humans" (Qureshi et al., 2014). Testosterone rose only in studies where tribulus was mixed with other ingredients.
Reports include trouble sleeping, tiredness and a raised heart rate at doses above 1,000 mg a day (OPSS Tribulus, 2024). A few cases of severe liver and kidney damage were linked to tribulus-containing supplements. Stop and see a doctor if anything feels wrong.
There is no human proof. MSK reports no human trials of horny goat weed for sexual problems (MSKCC Epimedium, 2023), and the US military's supplement safety office notes a lack of human research for its sexual-health claims (OPSS, Horny goat weed, 2024).
Reported effects include rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, mood changes and stomach upset (OPSS, Horny goat weed, 2024). People with heart disease should avoid it (MSKCC Epimedium, 2023).
Icariin is the best-known compound in horny goat weed leaves. Lab studies look at how it acts on the same enzyme that prescription ED pills block, but no human trial shows it works that way in men (MSKCC Epimedium, 2023). The Maxforce label does not list an icariin amount.
No. Experts advise people with heart disease to avoid it because of reports of rapid, irregular heartbeat (MSKCC Epimedium, 2023). If you have a heart condition, ask your cardiologist before any product that lists it, including Maxforce.
We do not know. The sales page names five ingredients, while the jar label lists nine, including tribulus and horny goat weed. Go by the label, which is the legal ingredient list.
The amount is not published. Tribulus is one of nine ingredients in an 82 mg blend. An even split would be about 9 mg, far below the 1,000 mg a day where side effects were reported.
Some have. FDA has found horny goat weed products spiked with tadalafil, sildenafil or avanafil, which are prescription ED drugs (OPSS, Horny goat weed, 2024). No lab test for Maxforce has been published.
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Nine label ingredients vs five on the sales page, plus claims the jar never makes.
Read more →Side effects by ingredient, blood pressure, liver, thyroid, interactions and when to stop.
Read more →All nine jar-label ingredients, the gummy base and an honest look at the doses.
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