Kanna Delivers Major Brain Health Benefits — From Mood To Cognitive Flexibility*

For many people, brain health is something to think about when you're "older." But why wait? It's never too early to flex your brain (aka neuroplasticity) and optimize cognitive longevity and well-being via brain-supporting habits. The best part: There are many ways to make it happen, from staying physically active to eating plenty of colorful, antioxidant-rich plant foods.

Kanna is the colloquial name for Sceletium tortuosum, an indigenous medicinal succulent plant from South Africa. It's also known as kougoed and channa, which translates to "something to chew" or "is chewable."

Today, kanna is popping back up in mood-boosting teas and some targeted nootropic supplements, and for good reason, too: Its benefits have garnered a compelling body of mechanistic and clinical research, providing science-backed support for diverse aspects of brain health, including executive function, cognitive flexibility, stress resilience, and mood balance.*

The main compounds (i.e., phytonutrient bioactives) in kanna are mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol, and mesembranol, collectively known as mesembrine alkaloids. 

If you're looking for an all-natural way to support your mood, consider kanna.* As mbg's nutrition research scientist, Emma Engler, M.S., explains, "Preclinical animal data providing mechanistic insight3 into kanna demonstrate this plant's actions on serotonin and a specific enzyme known as phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) via the main alkaloid bioactives present in this unique plant. This synergistic dual action on the central nervous system supports kanna's ability to enhance or lift mood and promote relaxation."* (At the same time).

Specifically, in terms of serotonin, the alkaloids in kanna enhance serotonin reuptake inhibition actions in the brain, thereby increasing levels of serotonin, explains Pasquariello.* Translation? These compounds help kanna delay the body—neurons, specifically—from quickly reabsorbing serotonin, ultimately extending its availability and activity in our brain and body, according to Engler.* Pretty cool, right? 

Although we can't avoid stress altogether (nor should we try), it's possible to nurture your stress response via botanicals like kanna.* But take note: This is not the same as supporting your mood.

As mbg's vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, explains, "Mood support is like the mothership health area, and an important one, but honing in further are specific benefits like stress resilience and anxiolytic pathways (i.e., fewer feelings of anxiousness and stress). The South African botanical kanna supports our cognitive ability to be emotionally tougher when coming up against stressors (um, daily). How? By interacting with our brain."*

Ferira dives deeper: "Mechanistically, this unique, adaptogenic Sceletium tortuosum plant has been shown in clinical research using advanced MRI brain imaging to buffer our brain from stress by positively impacting our neurocircuitry."* She points to a robustly designed randomized clinical trial4 leveraging 25 milligrams of Zembrin® kanna extract, which focused on the amygdala section of the brain and reactivity to threats. As seen in the results, participants were less reactive to these fearful stimuli.*

If Mother Nature had a chill pill, kanna would be it. Basically, as the mesembrine alkaloids in kanna support serotonin reuptake inhibition (and therefore, increased serotonin levels), they also pave the way for relaxation and calmness.* Serotonin, after all, is known as one of the "happy hormones," and enhanced levels of this neurohormone can promote alert serenity and a sense of mental well-being.

Specifically, in a six-week clinical trial, daily intake of Zembrin® kanna extract significantly increased alpha1 and alpha2 brain frequencies during various cognitive tasks.* As Engler notes, an uptick in these brain-wave frequencies is associated with greater calmness (plus, as mentioned before, helps with mood and memory).

As Ferira outlines, "Executive function encompasses massively important, higher-level cognitive functions ranging from attention and problem-solving to memory, abstract thinking, self-control, and even moral reasoning and decision-making—many of which involve the prefrontal cortex area of our brain." It also happens to be vital for sustaining cognitive balance5 to meet life's (sometimes challenging) demands.

Fortunately, it's possible to support executive function with premium botanicals like kanna.* In a compelling clinical study examining the cognitive effects of 25 milligrams and 50 milligrams of Zembrin® kanna extract, "both doses increased [the] power of certain brain-wave frequencies related to attention and memory,"* notes Appleton.

As Engler expounds, this includes alpha2 brain waves—which are associated with memory and shown to be significantly influenced by Zembrin® kanna extract during various cognitive tasks—as well as delta and theta brain waves, which are related to mental activation during processing (i.e., attention and performance).*

But how does this kanna benefit work, exactly? Ferira explains: "The mechanisms behind these beneficial cognitive effects are thought to be driven by the stress resilience impact on key brain circuits4, as well as the mood-lifting impact of blocking reuptake of serotonin (i.e., keeping it around longer) and inhibiting the PDE4 enzyme."*

"Kanna extract as Zembrin® taken daily (25 milligrams) has been clinically shown5 to positively affect cognitive flexibility, which happens to be a key subset of executive function,"* shares Ferira.

A quick explainer: Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt our thoughts and actions based on our environment, demonstrating agility and flexibility in our thinking and doing, Ferira explains. Additionally, it enables us to seamlessly pivot between mental tasks (i.e., task switching), which has obvious implications for juggling life like a pro, she adds.

Between preclinical6 animal research and human safety and tolerability clinical studies7 (not to mention its long history of traditional usage), kanna has demonstrated a strong safety profile, Engler notes. She continues, "In clinical studies at doses up to 50 milligrams, significant side effects or complaints are simply not commonplace. Also, the bulk of clinical studies are at a dose of 25 milligrams, so higher doses are unnecessary when trying to reap the targeted brain benefits of this particular botanical bioactive." 

If the rare case that side effects do occur, they may include mild gastrointestinal upset5, headaches, or bowel movement irregularity. 

It's important to remember that "kanna does have clinical trial evidence demonstrating increases in serotonin neurotransmitter levels (which directly supports cognitive and mood-enhancing benefits),"* explains Engler, "so, for those with specific psychological and psychiatric considerations, have a chat with your doctor before incorporating kanna into your routine."*

Sceletium tortuosum, colloquially known as kanna, is a powerful indigenous plant with many hundreds of years of historical use behind it. Kanna contains unique compounds called mesembrine alkaloids, which provide multidimensional brain support by enhancing myriad aspects of brain health—including executive function, cognitive flexibility, alert serenity, mood, and a healthy stress response.*

If you want to leverage the brain-supporting effects of kanna, a premium nootropic supplement containing the ingredient might be just what you need.*

mindbodygreen's brain guard+ features 25 milligrams of kanna extract as Zembrin®, the premium clinically researched form of the plant. Our scientifically advanced formula combines botanical kanna with the brain nutrient citicoline (Cognizin®) and polyphenol resveratrol (Veri-Te™), resulting in a powerful neuroprotective trifecta in just two daily capsules.*