Botanical extract

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extracts have modest human trial evidence for perceived stress and sleep, although pooled results differ by outcome and trial quality is mixed. KSM-66, a root-only extract standardized to at least 5% withanolides, is used in several well-known trials. Extract names and standardization measures matter: their trial results are not automatically interchangeable.

Bacopa monnieri is an Ayurvedic herb used traditionally to support memory. Randomized trials in healthy older adults found better verbal learning and delayed recall after about 12 weeks. A meta-analysis of nine trials found faster attention (Trail B) and choice reaction time. It is slow to act and commonly causes gut side effects.

Citrus bergamot is a flavonoid-rich extract of the bergamot orange, sold to lower cholesterol. Several small randomized trials found lower LDL cholesterol. A 2026 meta-analysis of nine trials found modest improvements in blood pressure, glucose and insulin resistance, and rated trial results as inconsistent. A network meta-analysis ranked it among the most effective LDL-lowering nutraceuticals.

Rhodiola rosea is an Arctic and alpine herb marketed as an adaptogen for stress and fatigue. Some randomized trials report less mental fatigue, but one found it made fatigue worse. Systematic reviews describe the evidence as contradictory and the trials as poorly reported.

Sabroxy is a branded bark extract of Oroxylum indicum, the Indian trumpet tree. It is standardized to three flavones: oroxylin A, chrysin and baicalein. One 12-week randomized trial in older adults with memory complaints found better episodic memory than placebo. The same trial found no difference on most individual tests, the MoCA or self-rated cognition. That trial is the only controlled human study of the plant.

Saffron is the dried stigma of Crocus sativus; supplements usually contain extracts with several constituents rather than a single molecule. Human trials suggest benefits for mood and subjective sleep quality, but a 2026 meta-analysis found improvements on self-rated depression and anxiety scales without significant effects on Hamilton depression or anxiety ratings or overall mood scores. Results depend on the preparation and outcome measured. Trials of the branded extract affron mostly report modest gains on self-rated depression scores, but a 2021 EFSA review judged its mood evidence insufficient for a health claim.