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Celastrus paniculatus and memory: grade D

Preliminary evidence. Direction: No effect.

Evidence maturity: Mechanistic only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: No controlled human outcome data; animal studies only

A 2026 systematic review of the literature to August 2024 states that randomized controlled trials in humans are absent, and a 2023 review notes the absence of any reported clinical studies. Memory findings come from rodent models (sodium nitrite and scopolamine amnesia, Morris water maze). As of November 11, 2026 we found no controlled human trial of Celastrus paniculatus on memory (PubMed and Europe PMC searches, November 11, 2026).

How sure are we?

Evidence maturity: Mechanistic only No controlled human outcome data; animal studies used seed oil or various seed extracts.

Tested as: Celastrus paniculatus seed oil or extracts (animal studies)

Who paid for the studies
Not stated (treated as not independent)
Risk of bias
Not assessed
Trial registry check
Not checked yet
Outcome measured
A test score, rating scale or performance measure
Who was studied
Matched
  • Could rise: Would move to C with one controlled human trial (pilot or RCT) with a prespecified outcome; to B with two consistent RCTs or one preregistered RCT of 100 or more.
  • Could fall: Not applicable at D; adequately sized null human RCTs would support N.

Science is provisional. This grade reflects the evidence we found as of . Next review: .

Maturity sits beside each grade. The grade says what the evidence shows; maturity says how much of it there is and how well it is confirmed.

Established
many trials from several independent teams, including at least one registered in advance
Emerging
two or more trials, or one large registered trial, not yet independently confirmed
Early signal
one trial, small pilots, or results only on secondary outcomes
Mechanistic only
lab, animal or biomarker data, or uncontrolled reports; no controlled human results
Traditional use only
a traditional-use monograph and nothing else

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)20102015202020252030RCTAnimal study (rat…Narrative reviewSystematic litera…Thongon 2026, 2026: RCT, n not recorded, result not recordedBhanumathy 2010, 2010: animal study (rats and mice), n not recorded, result not recordedAleem 2023, 2023: narrative review, n not recorded, result not recordedKumar 2026, 2026: systematic literature review (phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology; literature to august 2024), n not recorded, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Bhanumathy 20102010animal study (rats and mice)not recordedresult not recorded
Aleem 20232023narrative reviewnot recordedresult not recorded
Thongon 20262026RCTnot recordedresult not recorded
Kumar 20262026systematic literature review (phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology; literature to august 2024)not recordedresult not recorded

Enhancement of Memory and Synaptic Plasticity by Celastrus paniculatus Seed Extract: Upregulation of pSer831-GluA1 Trafficking and Arc/PSD-95 Expression in the Hippocampus of Male Rats.

Thongon N, Phattanakiatsakul T, Chamniansawat S. Enhancement of Memory and Synaptic Plasticity by Celastrus paniculatus Seed Extract: Upregulation of pSer831-GluA1 Trafficking and Arc/PSD-95 Expression in the Hippocampus of Male Rats ScientificWorldJournal, 2026. PMID 41767218

Result not recorded
Design
Animal study (rats, randomized to five groups)
Population
Male rats (animal model)
Funding
Thailand Science Research and Innovation; Burapha University (Crossref funder record)

Nootropic activity of Celastrus paniculatus seed.

Bhanumathy M, Harish MS, Shivaprasad HN. Nootropic activity of Celastrus paniculatus seed Pharm Biol, 2010. PMID 20645820

Result not recorded
Design
Animal study (rats and mice)
Population
Rats and mice (animal model)
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Celastrus paniculatus Wild.: a nootropic drug.

Aleem M. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Celastrus paniculatus Wild.: a nootropic drug J Complement Integr Med, 2023. PMID 34529902

Result not recorded
Design
Narrative review
Population
Published in vitro, animal and traditional-use literature
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Celastrus paniculatus Willd.: An Extensive Review of Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Potential, and Safety Profile.

Kumar N, Jaitak V. Celastrus paniculatus Willd.: An Extensive Review of Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Potential, and Safety Profile Phytother Res, 2026. PMID 41920476

Result not recorded
Design
Systematic literature review (phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology; literature to August 2024)
Population
Published preclinical and clinical literature and patents
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read

Search and history

Search (): (Celastrus paniculatus[tiab] OR jyotishmati[tiab] OR malkangni[tiab]) AND (memory[tiab] OR cognit*[tiab] OR attention[tiab])

  • Graded D (awaiting approval)
  • D to D (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page
  • D to D (approved) (maturity: mechanistic only): Maturity, bias summary and re-check date added