Mental AcuityNCT07648316
Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults
A study testing Ginseng in people with Mental Acuity, run by Arizona State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Acuity
- What is being tested?
- Ginseng
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Jun 2026to 15 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy young adults
- 18-30 years of age
Who cannot join
- medication/drug use that has not been consistent for the previous 3 months or will be discontinued during the trial
- unresolved chronic medical conditions (e.g., presence of persistent symptomology)
- diagnosed clinical depression
- acute illness
- regular use of cigarettes or marijuana
- pregnant or lactating women
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- not fluent in English
- currently competing in sports or unusually high-intensity exercise protocols (e.g., high-intensity exercise greater than 30 minutes most days of the week)
- current use of ginseng or adaptogenic supplements, or allergy to ginseng
- any significant food allergies
- not willing to attend two in-person lab visits in downtown Phoenix and follow study protocol (including abstaining from caffeine in the 12 hours prior to testing)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Health North ASU Downtown Campus
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004
Carol Johnston, PhD, 6024962539, carol.johnston@asu.edu
About this study
Official title: Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults, a Randomized Controlled Trial
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.
Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence brain function and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and beneficial changes to biomarkers with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.
Read the detailed description
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.
Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence multiple neurobiological pathways such as neurotrophic signaling, neurotransmitter regulation, oxidative balance, and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and modulated biomarkers related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.
- Conditions
- Mental Acuity
- Being tested
- Ginseng, Placebo
- Keywords
- ginseng, mental health, cognitive performancd
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GinsengDietary supplement
This study will test the efficacy of ginseng on health compared to placebo treatment.
PlaceboDietary supplement
This study will test the efficacy of ginseng on health compared to placebo treatment.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ginseng | Experimental | ginseng Receives: Dietary Supplement: Ginseng |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | strawberry gummy (2) Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
cognitive performance
Trail Making Test: measures cognitive flexibility; visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
Measured: 2 hours post ingestion
cognitive performance
Trail Making Test measures cognitive flexibility; visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
Measured: 2 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
stress
Perceived Stress Scale: higher scores indicate higher stress
Measured: 2 weeks
mental well being
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale: higher scores indicating greater positive mental wellbeing
Measured: 2 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jun 2026
- Study start22 Jun 2026
- Primary completion15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental AcuityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Arizona State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study will assess both the acute effect and long-term effect of ginseng consumption on cognition and mental well-being.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Arizona State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Carol Johnston, Arizona State University
- Investigators
- Carol Johnston, Principal investigator, Arizona State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07648316
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00024361
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 6 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults, a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07648316
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00024361
- Conditions
- Mental Acuity
- Keywords
- ginseng, mental health, cognitive performancd
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Arizona State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.
Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence brain function and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and beneficial changes to biomarkers with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.
Detailed description
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.
Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence multiple neurobiological pathways such as neurotrophic signaling, neurotransmitter regulation, oxidative balance, and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and modulated biomarkers related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study will assess both the acute effect and long-term effect of ginseng consumption on cognition and mental well-being.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ginseng | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Ginsengginseng |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Dietary Supplement: Placebostrawberry gummy (2) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Healthy young adults
- 18-30 years of age
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- medication/drug use that has not been consistent for the previous 3 months or will be discontinued during the trial
- unresolved chronic medical conditions (e.g., presence of persistent symptomology)
- diagnosed clinical depression
- acute illness
- regular use of cigarettes or marijuana
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| GinsengThis study will test the efficacy of ginseng on health compared to placebo treatment. | Dietary supplement | ginseng |
| PlaceboThis study will test the efficacy of ginseng on health compared to placebo treatment. | Dietary supplement | Placebo |
Primary outcome
cognitive performance
Time frame: 2 hours post ingestion
Trail Making Test: measures cognitive flexibility; visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
cognitive performance
Time frame: 2 weeks
Trail Making Test measures cognitive flexibility; visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
2 secondary outcomes
stress
Time frame: 2 weeks
mental well being
Time frame: 2 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Carol Johnston principal investigator
Arizona State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Ginseng in people with Mental Acuity, run by Arizona State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Carol Johnston (6024963463, carol.johnston@asu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
cognitive performance (time frame: 2 hours post ingestion). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Nov 2026.