Supplement
Persicaria minor is a leafy, aromatic herb from Southeast Asia, also called kesum, whose extracts are rich in plant compounds with antioxidant activity. People mainly look at it for memory and thinking in older age, and the evidence there is limited: one small six-month trial in older adults with mild cognitive impairment found better visual memory, while rodent studies also showed better memory. That trial had only 30 people, and the other findings, such as mood and antioxidant effects, come from single small studies or lab work.
Sources: PMID 33076878; PMID 37030545
- Updated
- How we grade
- 5 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 5
- Graded outcomes
- 0014
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Function A small 6-month RCT (n=30) of Persicaria minor extract (Biokesum® 500 mg/day) in older adults with mild cognitive impairment found significant improvement in visual memory (p=0.012) and increased right DLPFC brain activation. Two rodent studies demonstrated enhanced recognition and spatial memory in cerebral hypoperfusion and scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment models, with increased acetylcholine and GABA neurotransmitter expression. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | 30 people | ||
Studies that measured cognitive function
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| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant Status Multiple in vitro studies demonstrate strong antioxidant capacity of Persicaria minor extracts, including DPPH radical scavenging (up to 89.5%), high ORAC values (16,964 μmol TE/g), and LDL oxidation inhibition. One animal study showed cellular antioxidant protection of red blood cells. No human studies have specifically measured antioxidant outcomes. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured antioxidant status
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General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mood In a single small RCT (n=30) of older adults with mild cognitive impairment, 6 months of Persicaria minor extract (500 mg/day) significantly reduced tension (p=0.042), anger (p=0.010), and confusion (p=0.041) on the Profile of Mood States scale compared to placebo. Mood was a secondary outcome and the sample was very small. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | 30 people | ||
| BDNF Levels In a single small RCT (n=30), 6 months of Persicaria minor extract supplementation increased BDNF levels by 2% in the treatment group versus a 19% decrease in placebo (p=0.020). This was a secondary biomarker outcome in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | 30 people | ||
Studies that measured bdnf levels | ||||||
| Triglycerides In a single small RCT (n=30), 6 months of Persicaria minor extract reduced triglycerides by 19% in the treatment group versus a 10% increase in placebo (p=0.029). This was a secondary biomarker outcome and the study was not designed to evaluate lipid effects. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 2 studies | 30 people | ||
Studies that measured triglycerides | ||||||
Key findings
- Cognitive FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Antioxidant StatusImproves (the measure goes up)
- MoodImproves (the measure goes up)
Studies cited
5 studies from PubMed
- Persicaria minor ameliorates the cognitive function of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats: Metabolomic analysis and potential mechanisms
- An Update on Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Persicaria and Polygonum
- The effects of six months Persicaria minor extract supplement among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial
- In vitro and ex-vivo cellular antioxidant protection and cognitive enhancing effects of an extract of Polygonum minus Huds (Lineminus™) demonstrated in a Barnes Maze animal model for memory and learning
- Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of selected Malaysian plants