Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum): An Overview

1) Conditions Studied for Kanna Use

Kanna has been traditionally used for its mood-altering properties and has been studied for conditions such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress-related disorders
• Substance dependence

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

The effectiveness of Kanna in treating these conditions is still under investigation. Some studies and anecdotal evidence suggest potential benefits in mood enhancement and anxiety reduction, but more rigorous scientific research is needed to confirm these effects and establish proper dosing and safety.

3) Health Benefits of Kanna

Reported health benefits of Kanna include:

• Mood elevation
• Anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects
• Stress relief
• Improved cognitive function

However, these claims are based on traditional use and limited scientific research.

4) Potential Downsides of Kanna

While Kanna is considered safe when used appropriately, some potential downsides include:

• Mild side effects such as headache, loss of appetite, and irritability
• Possible interactions with other medications, particularly SSRIs or other psychiatric drugs
• Insufficient data on long-term use and safety

5) Genetic Variations and Kanna

Research on Kanna's interaction with specific genetic variations is limited. Some individuals with certain genetic makeups may metabolize Kanna differently, potentially influencing its efficacy and safety. However, concrete evidence on genetic interactions is currently lacking, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches when considering Kanna supplementation.

Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) Research Summary

Kanna, known scientifically as Sceletium tortuosum, is a plant historically used by the Khoisan of South Africa for its psychoactive effects. Traditionally, it was prepared by chewing dried plant material, creating tinctures, or smoking residues. While it enhances mood and may synergize with cannabis, it is not hallucinogenic. Kanna contains nine alkaloids, with mesembrine being one of them, known for its weak narcotic properties. The traditional preparation methods are thought to reduce harmful oxalates in the plant.

Research supports Kanna's potential for treating mental illnesses like depression and anxiety due to its narcotic-anxiolytic properties. A study using a standardized extract called Zembrin showed it was safe and well-tolerated in healthy adults. The same extract was found to have anxiolytic effects by reducing amygdala reactivity and improving cognitive flexibility, executive function, and mood.

Novel methods using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and hyperspectral imaging have improved the accuracy of distinguishing between similar Sceletium species. Additionally, nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry has provided a clearer understanding of the chemical differences in Kanna preparations.

The pharmacological action of Sceletium on serotonin transporters and PDE4 justifies traditional uses for anxiety and depression relief. Furthermore, controlled fermentation studies revealed changes in alkaloid content, with mesembrine transforming into Delta(7)mesembrenone under certain conditions.

Despite historical knowledge diminishing due to various sociopolitical factors, current research continues to support Sceletium's traditional uses and suggests new applications in dietary supplements, phytomedicines, and drug development. Toxicological studies in rats indicate that Zembrin is safe, with no adverse effects at high doses. However, the plant's impact on stress in rats highlighted the need for more research to determine an optimal therapeutic dose.

Investigations on the permeability of Kanna's alkaloids through pig tissues suggest that oral consumption could significantly contribute to its bioavailability. Metabolic studies have shown that Kanna's alkaloids produce various metabolites that could be detected in human urine, facilitating drug testing. Meanwhile, research on the plant's CNS effects in rats indicates its potential for pain relief and antidepressant action, although side effects such as ataxia may limit its therapeutic use.

References:

1. Psychoactive constituents of the genus Sceletium N.E.Br. and other Mesembryanthemaceae: a review
2. Review on plants with CNS-effects used in traditional South African medicine against mental diseases
3. A novel approach in herbal quality control using hyperspectral imaging: discriminating between Sceletium tortuosum and Sceletium crassicaule
4. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) in healthy adults
5. Acute effects of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), a dual 5-HT reuptake and PDE4 inhibitor, in the human amygdala and its connection to the hypothalamus
6. Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Study of Cognition Effects of the Proprietary Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) Targeting Phosphodiesterase-4 in Cognitively Healthy Subjects: Implications for Alzheimer's Dementia
7. Forensic analysis of mesembrine alkaloids in Sceletium tortuosum by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry
8. Pharmacological actions of the South African medicinal and functional food plant Sceletium tortuosum and its principal alkaloids
9. Investigations of the phytochemical content of Sceletium tortuosum following the preparation of "Kougoed" by fermentation of plant material
10. Sceletium--a review update
11. A toxicological safety assessment of a standardized extract of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin®) in rats
12. The effects of Sceletium tortuosum in an in vivo model of psychological stress
13. In vitro permeation of mesembrine alkaloids from Sceletium tortuosum across porcine buccal, sublingual, and intestinal mucosa
14. GC-MS, LC-MS(n), LC-high resolution-MS(n), and NMR studies on the metabolism and toxicological detection of mesembrine and mesembrenone, the main alkaloids of the legal high "Kanna" isolated from Sceletium tortuosum
15. A cognitive neuropsychological model of antidepressant drug action
16. CREB's control of intrinsic and synaptic plasticity: implications for CREB-dependent memory models
17. Action of rolipram on specific PDE4 cAMP phosphodiesterase isoforms and on the phosphorylation of cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in U937 monocytic cells
18. Using caffeine and other adenosine receptor antagonists and agonists as therapeutic tools against neurodegenerative diseases: a review
19. Metabolic benefits of inhibiting cAMP-PDEs with resveratrol
20. Effects of repeated antidepressant treatment of type 4A phosphodiesterase (PDE4A) in rat brain
21. Stereoselective inhibition of serotonin re-uptake and phosphodiesterase by dual inhibitors as potential agents for depression
22. Potential of the rat model of conditioned gaping to detect nausea produced by rolipram, a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor
23. Effects of Sceletium tortuosum in rats
24. Neural processing of fearful faces: effects of anxiety are gated by perceptual capacity limitations

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