Supplement
Dwarf morning glory is a small creeping herb used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is often sold as shankhpushpi, and it appears to act on the brain's chemical signaling. People mostly look at it for memory and learning, and in rodents an extract improved both, with effects comparable to a known memory drug. Even so, the evidence is limited, since it comes almost entirely from animal work and no human trials were found.
Sources: PMID 19610035; PMID 21851207
- Updated
- How we grade
- 4 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 0013
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory & Learning Enhancement In multiple rodent models (pole climbing, passive avoidance, active avoidance paradigms), ethanol extract of Evolvulus alsinoides significantly improved learning and memory, with effects comparable to piracetam. The extract also reversed scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats, suggesting cholinergic involvement. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured memory & learning enhancement
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| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Reduction In rodent elevated plus maze models, Evolvulus alsinoides extract demonstrated anxiolytic effects, possibly mediated via serotonin and GABA modulation. Supported by long traditional Ayurvedic use for anxiety and mental disorders, but no human data exists. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured anxiety reduction
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General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroprotection In animal and in vitro studies, Evolvulus alsinoides increased antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase) and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in brain tissue. May protect against neurotoxin-induced neuronal damage, but evidence is limited to preclinical models. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured neuroprotection
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| Sedation / CNS Depression In animal models, high doses of Evolvulus alsinoides produced sedative and CNS-depressant effects, consistent with traditional Ayurvedic use as a tranquilizer. Effects appear dose-dependent: nootropic at lower doses and sedative at higher doses. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured sedation / cns depression
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Key findings
- Memory & Learning EnhancementImproves (the measure goes up)
- Anxiety ReductionChanges; see studies
- NeuroprotectionImproves (the measure goes up)
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- Grade C
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Studies cited
4 studies from PubMed
- Role of Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) in neurological disorders: An umbrella review covering evidence from ethnopharmacology to clinical studies
- Protective mechanisms of nootropic herb Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) against dementia: network pharmacology and computational approach
- Nootropic, anxiolytic and CNS-depressant studies on different plant sources of shankhpushpi
- Effect of Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. on learning behavior and memory enhancement activity in rodents