Sceletium tortuosum dose  is a plant native to South Africa. It has a long history of use among the San and Khoikhoi people as a psychoactive herb and a natural stress buster. Anxiolytic and antidepressant effects have been reported in case reports and limited clinical studies using tablets of milled scletium plant material. A randomized double-blind study found that 25 mg of a 2:1 scletium extract (trademark Zembrin) was well tolerated and resulted in reduced anxiety, depression, and stress levels in healthy adults.

The plant contains a variety of alkaloids, but mesembrenone and mesembrenol are the primary psychoactive compounds. The plant is also rich in flavonoids and amino acids. It has been shown to have many biological activities, including immunodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anxiolytic effects.

Finding Balance with Sceletium Tortuosum Dosing: A Comprehensive Guide

It is believed that the anxiolytic effects of sceletium tortuosum are related to its dual inhibition of serotonin reuptake and PDE-4. In a recent fMRI study, researchers found that an extract of scletium tortuosum significantly inhibited fear responses in the brain. Researchers speculate that this may be due to a reduction in amygdala activity, which is linked to the fight or flight response.

Other studies suggest that sceletium tortuosum has beneficial cognitive effects. It is believed that the herb decreases state anxiety, which leads to better reaction times and improved memory during high stress events. The plant is also thought to reduce the effect of anxiety on libido. Mesembrenone has been tested for cytotoxicity and was found to be less toxic than other amaryllidaceous alkaloids, but further studies are needed to test this.