Full profile
| Also known as | Panax quinquefolius, Cereboost |
|---|---|
| Best for | Acute working-memory support |
| Evidence grade | Grade B — Moderate — several human trials, some mixed results |
| Studied dose range | 200 mg of standardized extract, single dose in the studied trials. |
| Time to effect | Acute — measured within 1–3 hours of a single dose. |
| Best form | Cereboost, standardized to roughly 10% ginsenosides. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Graded B for the acute working-memory claim specifically, not for chronic use or for cognition broadly. Scholey 2010 (PMC2952762) and Ossoukhova 2015 found the Cereboost extract improved working-memory measures after a single dose in healthy adults. A chronic-dosing trial (Bell 2022, doi:10.1007/s00394-021-02654-5) was largely null — that gap between acute and chronic results is the honest caveat behind the grade. This is a different species from Asian Panax ginseng; its fatigue/working-memory signal should not be read across to that entry, and vice versa.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated
Who should avoid it or check first
- On anticoagulants or antidiabetic medication without clinician review
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without clinician guidance
Interactions
- May interact with anticoagulants and antidiabetic medications — discuss with a clinician
Stacks well with
- L-Theanine
Use caution stacking with
- Panax Ginseng (redundant adaptogen mechanism without a clear rationale)
What to look for on a label
- Specify "American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)" — not just "ginseng" — since the species and evidence base differ from Asian Panax ginseng.
- Position as acute working-memory support; chronic-use claims outrun the current evidence.
References
- Scholey 2010 — Cereboost acute working-memory RCT. Single-dose Cereboost improved working-memory measures in healthy adults. PMC2952762. Educational, not a product claim.
- Ossoukhova 2015 — American ginseng acute cognition trial. Further single-dose evidence for acute working-memory effects. Educational.
- Bell 2022 — chronic American ginseng dosing trial. Chronic daily dosing was largely null on cognitive outcomes — the honest gap between acute and chronic evidence. doi:10.1007/s00394-021-02654-5.
Primary citations for some entries above are still being compiled; those without a linked identifier are editorial summaries of the wider literature.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
See how American Ginseng compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
