Cistanche · Cistanche tubulosa ("desert ginseng")
A parasitic desert plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a tonic, with a recent human RCT showing cognitive improvements when combined with Ginkgo biloba.
Short answer
Cistanche (Cistanche tubulosa ("desert ginseng")) is a adaptogen / cognitive longevity with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 0 produkter containing Cistanche. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
Cistanche tubulosa is a leafless parasitic plant that grows in arid desert regions of China, valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a kidney and vitality tonic, standardized commercially for its echinacoside content.
Why people take it
Cistanche's echinacoside and related phenylethanoid glycosides have antioxidant and neuroprotective properties studied for cognitive aging and physical function (locomotive syndrome) in older adults.
Our verdict
A well-designed RCT combining Cistanche with Ginkgo showed meaningful cognitive score improvements over 90 days, and a separate trial found gait speed improvements — genuinely encouraging human data, though most trials combine Cistanche with other ingredients rather than testing it alone, making its independent contribution harder to isolate.
Structure & class
Standardized extracts are typically quantified for echinacoside and related phenylethanoid glycoside content; the EFSA-reviewed Novel Food form is a water extract of C. tubulosa stems.
Mechanism & clinical data
A randomized, dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad trial (2024, Phytotherapy Research) tested 100 subjects over 90 days with 72 mg echinacoside plus 27 mg flavonol glycosides/day (combined with Ginkgo biloba extract), finding significant MMSE, MoCA, and quality-of-life improvements by day 90. A separate RCT (n=26, 2021, Nutrients) tested a 12-week intervention for age-related locomotive syndrome, finding improved gait speed. An open-label trial in Alzheimer's patients (n=18) using 1800 mg/day (Memoregain formulation) over 48 weeks found cognitive stabilization rather than improvement. EFSA's Novel Food safety assessment reviewed data across 1,076 patients with doses up to 1800 mg/day, finding an acceptable safety profile with two unrelated severe adverse events noted.
Pharmacokinetics
Echinacoside and phenylethanoid glycoside pharmacokinetics in humans are not well characterized; trial effects assessed after 90 days to 48 weeks of continuous dosing.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Most positive human trials use Cistanche in combination with other botanicals (notably Ginkgo), making its standalone effect less clear; long-term safety data beyond ~1 year is limited; sourcing/standardization varies.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Cistanche, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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A randomized, dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people (2024). Phytother Res. PMID 38972848.A randomized, dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people (2024). Phytother Res. PMID 38972848.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
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A randomized, dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people (2024). Phytother Res. PMID 38972848.
A randomized, dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad study of Cistanche tubulosa and Ginkgo biloba extracts for the improvement of cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly people (2024). Phytother Res. PMID 38972848.
Läs studie →
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Cistanche, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Adaptogen / Cognitive longevity →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Cistanche in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cistanche?
Cistanche tubulosa is a leafless parasitic plant that grows in arid desert regions of China, valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a kidney and vitality tonic, standardized commercially for its echinacoside content.
What dose of Cistanche should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 1800 mg per dag, with a range of 99 to 1800 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Cistanche safe?
Most positive human trials use Cistanche in combination with other botanicals (notably Ginkgo), making its standalone effect less clear; long-term safety data beyond ~1 year is limited; sourcing/standardization varies.
What is the best Cistanche supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Cistanche. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Cistanche?
Cistanche has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.