Supplement
California poppy is a golden-flowered plant whose extracts contain alkaloids that appear to act on calming pathways in the brain, including GABA and serotonin receptors. People mostly look at it for anxiety, but the evidence is limited: a trial of about 264 people found a combination product with hawthorn and magnesium eased mild to moderate anxiety. Because that product was a blend, and the other findings come mostly from rodents and lab work, it's unclear what California poppy does on its own.
Sources: PMID 14741074
- Updated
- How we grade
- 8 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 1
- Outcomes
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 0013
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Quality In rodent studies, California poppy extracts prolonged barbiturate-induced sleeping time and reduced locomotor activity, consistent with sedative properties mediated through GABA-A receptor and benzodiazepine binding site modulation. No human clinical trials have evaluated California poppy as a standalone sleep aid. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured sleep quality
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| Pain California poppy alkaloids (protopine, escholtzine) demonstrate weak binding affinity for opioid receptors in vitro, and the plant has longstanding traditional use for pain relief among Native American populations. Limited animal data suggest mild analgesic effects, but no human clinical trials have evaluated standalone analgesic efficacy. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured pain
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| Drug Metabolism Interactions In vitro studies demonstrate that California poppy alkaloids modulate cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and pregnane X receptor (PXR), suggesting potential for herb-drug interactions. A 2023 study confirmed alkaloid intestinal permeability and microbiota interactions, but clinical significance in humans remains uncharacterized. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured drug metabolism interactions
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Key findings
- AnxietyImproves (the measure goes down)
- Sleep QualityImproves (the measure goes up)
- PainImproves (the measure goes down)
Studies cited
8 studies from PubMed
- Comprehensive Metabolomic Profiling and Biological Activity Analysis of Eschscholzia californica Extracts Using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS.
- Alkaloids in commercial preparations of California poppy - Quantification, intestinal permeability and microbiota interactions.
- Modulation of CYPs, P-gp, and PXR by Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) and Its Alkaloids.
- Modulatory Effects of Eschscholzia californica Alkaloids on Recombinant GABAA Receptors.
- Plant-based medicines for anxiety disorders, Part 1: a review of preclinical studies.
- Alkaloids from Eschscholzia californica and their capacity to inhibit binding of [3H]8-Hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin to 5-HT1A receptors in Vitro.
- Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders.
- Neurophysiological effects of an extract of Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae).