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Persicaria Minor

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

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
2
Outcomes
5
Graded outcomes
0014

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

2 conditions, plus general outcomes

Age-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD)

Age-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD): outcomes studied for Persicaria Minor
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies 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 effect6 studies30 people

Studies that measured cognitive function

Antioxidant Status

Antioxidant Status: outcomes studied for Persicaria Minor
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies 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 effect5 studies

Studies that measured antioxidant status

General

General: outcomes studied for Persicaria Minor
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies 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 effect4 studies30 people

Studies that measured mood

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 effect4 studies30 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 effect4 studies30 people

Studies that measured triglycerides

Key findings

  • Cognitive FunctionAge-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD)Improves (the measure goes up)
  • Antioxidant StatusAntioxidant StatusImproves (the measure goes up)
  • MoodImproves (the measure goes up)

Shop Persicaria Minor

Third-party tested Persicaria Minor products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade C

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Studies cited

7 studies from PubMed

  1. Persicaria minor ameliorates the cognitive function of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats: Metabolomic analysis and potential mechanismsBehavioural Brain Research, 2023 · PMID 37030545
  2. An Update on Phytochemicals and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Persicaria and PolygonumMolecules, 2021 · PMID 34641500
  3. The effects of six months Persicaria minor extract supplement among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trialBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2020 · PMID 33076878
  4. 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 learningBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014 · PMID 24886679
  5. Tolerability and safety evaluation of a standardized Polygonum minus extract in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014 · PMID 24550993
  6. Antiulcer activity of aqueous extract of Polygonum minus in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in Sprague Dawley ratsInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2012 · PMID 22408403
  7. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of selected Malaysian plantsMolecules, 2011 · PMID 21512451