The supplement, supplied by Nektium Pharma S.L., Gran Canaria, Spain, is a soluble formulation standardized to contain at least 60% of the active ingredient mangiferin. It is reportedly more easily incorporated into food products such as drinks and shakes.
“These findings support Zynamite S as a natural nootropic capable of acutely improving key cognitive functions and emotional balance at low doses in young adults, with sustained efficacy for at least five hours,” wrote researchers from the University of Atlántico Medio and other institutions in Spain and Colombia. Nektium also sponsored the research.
Student study aids
Due to academic demands and social transitions at university, students may suffer from stress, attention issues and fatigue. These issues may also be related to more chronic conditions such as depression or anxiety.
Some students use unprescribed medications as study aids and nootropics, the researchers noted, with prescription stimulants like the ADHD drugs Adderall and Ritalin the most common nootropics among students for focus and concentration. Additionally, some may use modafinil (Provigil), a drug for sleep disorders, to increase alertness.
One study in the United States revealed that 45.7% of students reported using prescription drugs in the past four months without a diagnosis of ADHD or a doctor’s prescription.
Students may also use more natural solutions such as caffeine or supplements containing Bacopa monnieri, Ginkgo biloba and L-theanine. Mango leaf extract, which has been used traditionally for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, has also been added to this list, with recent studies suggesting it may exert cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection effects.
The main bioactive in mango leaf is mangiferin, a xanthone that displays anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions. The substance has been reported to prevent brain-derived neurotrophic factor depletion, support mitochondrial function and improve learning and memory.
Specifically, Zynamite may “boost mental energy by enhancing attention, improving reaction time and reducing mental fatigue and stress,” the researchers wrote. “Additionally, the extract enhanced the excitability of hippocampal pyramidal cells and modulated brain activity as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG), especially when administered in combination with caffeine.”
However, mangiferin’s low solubility and bioavailability in food-based solvents present a challenge when formulating products such as energy drinks and shakes. The researchers note that Zynamite-S is a new formulation developed with solubilization technologies “with up to 2.44 times the bioavailability of mangiferin.”
Study details
The study involved 119 university students who were randomly assigned to consume either 100 mg or 150 mg of Zynamite-S mango (Mangifera indica) leaf extract or a placebo in a double-blind crossover design. The researchers used appropriate tests to evaluate cognitive function and mood at baseline, 30 minutes, three hours and five hours post-intake.
The results demonstrated that participants who received Zynamite S experienced significant improvements in reduced tension, depression and confusion, suggesting an enhancement in mental clarity and overall emotional well-being,” the researchers reported.
Both dosages were associated with improved processing speed and cognitive flexibility, but “no significant differences were observed in short- and long-term verbal memory.”
“A dose response was demonstrated for Zynamite S, with the 100 mg dose suitable for moderate stress and cognitive demands and the 150 mg dose offering greater benefits, potentially suitable for more stressful and cognitively demanding situations,” the study noted.
The researchers suggested that further research with broader dosages over more extended periods is necessary to evaluate the sustained cognitive effects.
Source: Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(4), 571. doi: 10.3390/ph18040571. “Acute Supplementation of Soluble Mango Leaf Extract (Zynamite S) Improves Mental Performance and Mood: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study”. Authors: Y. Castellote-Caballero et al.
