Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Sceletium tortuosum, commonly known as kanna, is a succulent plant native to South Africa. Its traditional use by indigenous Khoisan peoples dates back centuries, primarily for mood elevation, stress reduction, and relief of thirst and hunger. More recently, sceletium has gained attention for its potential anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties.

Scientifically, sceletium contains alkaloids such as mesembrine, mesembrenone, and mesembrenol, which are believed to act as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors. These mechanisms are relevant to mood and anxiety regulation. A handful of small, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have examined standardized sceletium extracts (such as Zembrin®) in healthy volunteers and individuals experiencing mild to moderate anxiety. These studies report improvements in anxiety-related measures, stress response, and cognitive flexibility, with few adverse effects. However, the total number of clinical trials is limited, sample sizes are small, and most studies have been industry-sponsored.

While preliminary data are promising and suggest a plausible mechanism of action, robust, independent, and large-scale clinical trials are lacking. Thus, sceletium's use for supporting or treating anxiety disorders can be considered scientifically plausible but not yet well validated. Evidence strength is modest (rated 2/5), and further research is needed to confirm efficacy and long-term safety.

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