Kanna Powder: Leaf, Extract and Fermented Explained
Two jars labeled kanna powder can hold very different things, and the milligrams on the label will not tell you which.
Search for kanna powder and you will find listings for "kanna leaf powder," "kanna extract powder" and "fermented kanna," often sold side by side with no explanation of how they differ. This post explains the difference between leaf powder and extract powder, what fermentation changes, and how to read the amount on a label. It is descriptive only and does not recommend a serving.
Kanna powder is either ground Sceletium tortuosum plant or a powdered extract of it, and WebMD lists both ground powder and extract among the forms sold [1]. Alkaloid content varies by plant source [2], and fermentation changed alkaloid levels in one lab study [4]. The human trials used a standardized extract, so their doses do not transfer to plain leaf powder [5].
What is kanna powder?
It is the dried plant ground fine, or a concentrated extract dried to a powder.
WebMD says sceletium is available as a liquid extract, dried ground powder, capsule, tea and gummy, and that each form may contain different amounts of the plant's chemicals [1]. Historically the plant was not sold as powder: accounts describe chewing the dried, fermented material, and using tinctures [3]. For the plant's background see what is kanna.
This post does not cover inhaling or other non-oral routes. We describe history where it appears in the literature, and we give no technique for them.
Is kanna powder the same as kanna extract?
No. Powder is plant material; an extract is a concentrate, and the two cannot be compared by weight.
A 2022 metabolomics study of Sceletium found that levels of marker alkaloids varied by collection locality and ecotype, and proposed those markers as a way to monitor commercial products [2]. A gram of leaf powder from one source can therefore contain a different amount of alkaloids from a gram from another. A standardized extract aims to reduce that spread by targeting a stated level of marker compounds, but only if the label tells you what was standardized.
Here is why this matters for dosing language. The human trials used Zembrin, a standardized extract: 8 mg or 25 mg a day for 3 months in 37 healthy adults [5], and, in an imaging study, a single 25 mg dose [6]. A 2021 review noted that the plant has not yet been studied in a clinical population [7]. A scoop of leaf powder is a different material from that extract, so those figures cannot be translated into spoonfuls. This is the same limit we explain in kanna dosage.
| Leaf powder | Extract powder | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Dried, ground plant | Concentrate made from the plant, dried |
| Alkaloid content | Varies by plant source and batch [2] | Depends on the extract; check whether it is standardized |
| Matches the trials? | No | Only if it is the same extract |
| Label to look for | Plant part, origin, whether fermented | Named extract, marker compounds, amount per serving |
Fermented vs unfermented kanna powder: what does fermentation change?
Fermentation changes which alkaloids are present, at least in the one lab study we could verify.
The traditional preparation is called kougoed: the plant is fermented, then dried. A 1996 review of historical accounts describes chewing the dried product after fermentation, and suggests that traditional and modern preparation methods reduce potentially harmful oxalates [3]. In a 2009 study, fermented plant samples were analyzed over time. Mesembrine fell from 1.33% to 0.05%, while delta-7-mesembrenone rose to 0.11% by day 10. Similar changes occurred when mesembrine was dissolved in water but not in methanol, and sunlight and water appeared necessary for the transformation [4].
Take two lessons from that. First, "fermented" is not a quality mark by itself; it describes a process that alters the alkaloid mix. Second, we found only this one controlled analysis. Other fermentation methods or plant batches could behave differently, and no human trial has compared fermented and unfermented material. Marketing claims that fermented kanna is stronger or weaker are not supported by anything we could open.
How are amounts stated on powder labels?
Usually as a weight per scoop or serving, which is not the same as milligrams of active compounds.
A leaf powder label may say "1 g serving" with nothing about alkaloids. An extract powder may state a ratio, a standardization, or milligrams of "kanna extract." Each is a different kind of number. Many products also state a serving that is a measured scoop, which is only as consistent as the scoop. The NCCIH notes that terms like "standardized" do not necessarily guarantee product quality or consistency, and that what is on the label may not be what is in the product [8]. Our kanna label guide works through this panel by panel.
What does the research say about kanna powder?
Nothing directly. The trials tested a standardized extract, and none tested plain powder.
In a 2013 imaging study of 16 healthy volunteers, a single 25 mg dose of the extract was associated with reduced amygdala reactivity to fearful faces [6]. In the 3-month safety trial, 8 mg or 25 mg a day did not change vital signs, ECG or bloodwork versus placebo; the most common adverse event was headache, more frequent in the placebo group, and efficacy was not assessed [5]. These were small studies in healthy adults, and several authors were affiliated with the extract's owner. So a claim about what kanna powder does is an extrapolation from a different material. Our summary of the evidence is at kanna benefits.
What are the safety cautions for kanna powder?
They follow the plant, not the form: serotonergic drug interactions and unknown pregnancy safety.
WebMD lists headache and upset stomach as common side effects. It lists possible interactions with MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, triptans and St. John's wort, says research on interactions is incomplete, and says it is not known whether sceletium affects pregnancy [1]. WebMD also says the FDA has not confirmed products contain the ingredients listed on their labels, and that some products have contained other ingredients [1]. If you take any of the listed medicines, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition, talk to a doctor or pharmacist first. See is kanna safe.
What should you check before choosing a kanna powder?
- Leaf or extract. The label should say which.
- Plant part and origin. "Sceletium tortuosum, aerial parts" is more informative than "kanna."
- Fermented or not. And what that means for the product.
- Amount per serving, and what it measures. Plant weight, extract weight or alkaloids.
- Contact details, lot number and a test report if offered. See where to buy kanna.
- Added ingredients. Powders sometimes come blended with other botanicals or caffeine.
Capsules, tinctures and tea are covered in kanna capsules, kanna tincture and kanna tea. For comparisons of specific products see best kanna supplements.
This page is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Kanna products are not intended for any disease or health condition. kannadrinks.com is published by Psilly Goose, a kanna drink maker.
References
- WebMD. Sceletium: Uses, side effects, interactions. webmd.com
- Reddy K, Stander MA, Stafford GI, Makunga NP. Mass spectrometry metabolomics and feature-based molecular networking reveals population-specific chemistry in some species of the Sceletium genus. Front Nutr 2022;9. PubMed
- Smith MT, Crouch NR, Gericke N, Hirst M. Psychoactive constituents of the genus Sceletium N.E.Br. and other Mesembryanthemaceae: a review. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;50(3):119-30. AGRIS record
- Patnala S, Kanfer I. Investigations of the phytochemical content of Sceletium tortuosum following the preparation of "kougoed" by fermentation of plant material. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;121(1):86-91. PubMed
- Nell H, et al. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of Extract Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin) in healthy adults. J Altern Complement Med 2013;19(11):898-904. PubMed
- Terburg D, et al. Acute effects of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin), a dual 5-HT reuptake and PDE4 inhibitor, in the human amygdala and its connection to the hypothalamus. Neuropsychopharmacology 2013;38(13):2708-16. PubMed
- Olatunji TL, et al. Sceletium tortuosum: a review on its phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, biological and clinical activities. J Ethnopharmacol 2021;280:114476. PubMed
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Using dietary supplements wisely. nccih.nih.gov
Frequently asked questions
What is kanna powder?
It is dried, ground Sceletium tortuosum, or a powdered extract made from it. WebMD lists dried ground powder as one of the forms sold [1]. The two are different products, and the label should say which one it is.
Is kanna powder the same as kanna extract?
Not necessarily. Leaf powder is ground plant. An extract is a concentrate made from the plant. Studies of the plant show alkaloid levels vary by collection site and ecotype [2], so the same weight of leaf powder from two sources can differ.
What is fermented kanna powder?
Traditionally the plant was fermented and dried, a preparation called kougoed [3]. In one lab study, mesembrine fell from 1.33% to 0.05% over a 10-day fermentation while another alkaloid, delta-7-mesembrenone, rose [4].
How much kanna powder is a serving?
We do not recommend amounts. Labels state their own serving size, and the human trials used a standardized extract rather than leaf powder, so their doses do not apply [5][6]. See kanna dosage.
Is kanna powder safe?
It carries the same cautions as other forms: possible interactions with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs and similar drugs, and unknown effects in pregnancy [1]. See is kanna safe.