Full profile
| Also known as | Kanna, Zembrin |
|---|---|
| Best for | Mood support (preliminary) · Cognitive flexibility (preliminary) |
| Evidence grade | Emerging — Emerging — mostly preclinical or preliminary human data |
| Studied dose range | 25 mg/day of standardized extract (Zembrin). |
| Time to effect | Some acute effects reported; trials commonly run several weeks. |
| Best form | Zembrin, the standardized branded extract used in available trials. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Human trials of the Zembrin extract are small and sponsor-linked, with limited independent replication. Directionally interesting for mood and cognitive flexibility, but not yet a trial base to build a confident claim on.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated in available trials
Who should avoid it or check first
- On SSRIs or MAOIs without clinician guidance (see interaction caution)
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without clinician guidance
Interactions
- Avoid combining with SSRIs, other serotonergic medications, or MAOIs — theoretical serotonergic interaction risk — discuss with a clinician
Use caution stacking with
- SSRIs, other serotonergic supplements, or MAOIs
What to look for on a label
- Carry a clear interaction caution for SSRI/MAOI medication given the serotonergic mechanism under study.
References
- Chiu S, Gericke N, Farina-Woodbury M, et al. (2014). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014:682014Improved cognitive set-flexibility and executive function versus placebo.
- Terburg et al. (2013) — Zembrin and amygdala reactivity. Single-dose fMRI study (n=16) reporting reduced amygdala reactivity to threat, the neural correlate behind the mood positioning. Neuropsychopharmacology. PMID 23903032. Small, mechanistic; educational, not a product claim.
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.
Revision history
Every change to this ingredient's evidence status, dated and explained. The full cross-library log lives at Evidence Updates.
- 2026-07-07New profile
Initial profile published at Grade Emerging: small, sponsor-linked Zembrin trials with limited independent replication.
See how Sceletium Tortuosum compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
