Condition
Mental Health
Mental health describes how we think, feel and cope, shaped by brain chemistry, stress hormones and life circumstances. Selank and magnolia bark have the most supporting research: across six studies, anxiety symptoms went down with Selank, and in one four-week trial a magnolia bark product eased stress and improved mood. The evidence is moderate, though the magnolia trial was small, and luteolin's promise comes mostly from animal work.
Sources: PMID 18454096; PMID 25176261
- Updated
- How we grade
- 9 studies cited
- Supplements studied
- 2
- Medicines and peptides
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 6
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mood and Stress Parameters RCT (n=56, 4 weeks): Relora significantly improved mood state parameters vs placebo: Overall Stress (-11%), Tension (-13%), Depression (-20%), Anger (-42%), Fatigue (-31%), Confusion (-27%), Global Mood State (+11%), and Vigor (+18%). | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | ||||
| Anxiety Reduction Pilot RCT (n=40 women, 6 weeks): Relora reduced temporary, transitory anxiety on Spielberger STATE anxiety questionnaire vs placebo. Animal studies: Honokiol (0.2 mg/kg) showed anxiolytic effects comparable to diazepam 1 mg/kg without motor dysfunction or sedation. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects Preclinical studies: Luteolin (10-20 mg/kg) reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviors in sleep deprivation, PTSD, and chronic stress animal models. Effects comparable to paroxetine. Mechanisms include NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway modulation. Human clinical trials needed. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Selank
- Anxiety Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms Moderate Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 6 studies | 240 people |
Sermorelin
- General Well-Being: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Well-Being Quality of life parameters showed significant improvement in general well-being (P < 0.05) and libido (P < 0.01) in elderly men following 4 months of treatment. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect |
Semax
- Anxiety Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms Small Decrease | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | 60 people |
Key findings
- Mood and Stress ParametersImproves (the measure goes up)
- Anxiety ReductionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Anxiolytic and Antidepressant EffectsImproves (the measure goes up)
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Studies cited
9 studies from PubMed
- Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects
- Peptide-based Anxiolytics: The Molecular Aspects of Heptapeptide Selank Biological Activity
- Changes in Sympathetic Innervation of the Heart in Rats with Experimental Myocardial Infarction. Effect of Semax.
- Changes in Sympathetic Innervation of Rat Caudal Artery in Experimental Myocardial Infarction. Effect of Semax Peptide.
- Selank Administration Affects the Expression of Some Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission
- A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders
- Effects of heptapeptide selank on genetically-based and situation-provoked symptoms of depression in behavior in WAG/Rij and Wistar rats, and in BALB/c mice
- Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia
- Semax, an analogue of adrenocorticotropin (4-10), binds specifically and increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein in rat basal forebrain