What is zembrin Sceletium tortuosum extract?
A well-characterized standardized hydroethanolic extract of a traditionally recognized mak (mild) variety of Sceletium tortuosum, a South African plant with a long history of traditional ingestion, is marketed under the trade name Zembrin® as an ingredient for use in functional foods and dietary supplements. Zembrin® is an extract of Sceletium tortuosum, an herb traditionally used in South Africa for centuries to support emotional and mental well-being. Modern clinical studies have demonstrated that Zembrin® can promote a feeling of calm while enhancing mental alertness.Zembrin treatment did not significantly affect the composite score of the 9 cognitive tests or depression scores (measured by HAM-D). Subjects taking Zembrin reported improvement in the subjective quality of sleep (on the HAM-D subscale) and a positive effect on onset of sleep compared with the placebo group.In this study, Zembrin exerted an overall improvement in the quality of sleep in a normal community sample. Our results corroborated the findings from a recent safety and tolerability study of extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) on sleep quality [21].
How long has Sceletium been used?
The medicinal use of Sceletium is thought to date as early as the 4th century AD. The earliest written records available for review are from 1662-1685. Dosage Considerations. Traditional use as a masticatory suggests that a daily dose of sceletium is between 500 and 1,500 mg. The African Herbal Pharmacopoeia reports a daily total alkaloid intake of between 2 and 12 mg daily [27].
Does Sceletium increase serotonin?
Sceletium tortuosum contains plant alkaloids, with mesembrine and mesembrenone being the most active. They are serotonin reuptake inhibitors, like many modern antianxiety and antidepressant medications, and they increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Zembrin) were recently identified as comprising blockade of the serotonin (5-HT) transporter and selective inhibition of the phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) enzyme (Harvey et al, 2011). HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used for the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression (Pringle et al, 2011).