Oroxylin A: Benefits, Uses and Side Effects

Oroxylin A, also known as Sabroxy(r), a promising nootropic with a history that dates back to approximately 5,000 years.

This compound has been used in ancient healing practices for many benefits. However, researchers are only beginning to investigate its effects on neurological health, and it is now being investigated as one of the most effective nootropic compounds.

With several culture and animal studies, we’re learning that oroxylin may exhibit the neurological-enhancing functions that Western research has been searching for. What is it? What is it?

This article will explain what oroxylin A is, how it can impact brain function, how it works, as well as why the ancient benefits of this compound may be just what you need to be more productive and happier in the modern world.

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What is Oroxylin A?

Oroxylin A, also known as Oroxylum Indicum, is a medicinal compound derived from the Indian trumpet tree. The tree can be found in tropical climates like India, Sri Lanka and Japan. It has been used in traditional medicine practices such as Ayurveda for thousands of years.

The Indian trumpet tree was used to treat diarrhea, ulcers, fever and jaundice in ancient India. Recent research has shown that the active constituents of this plant may possess anti-inflammatory, antiulcerative, antioxidant and antiarthritic properties.

Evidence suggests that oroxylin A, an active compound, may be a nootropic and enhance cognitive function.

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Oroxylin A’s Potential Cognitive Benefits

Currently, the majority of research on oroxylin-A is animal or lab studies. What investigators have discovered so far suggests a strong neuro-supportive role for oroxylin A in the human mind.

There are many interesting areas where researchers are investigating potential therapeutic uses for Oroxylin A:

• Attention disorders
• Memory
• Cognitive impairment
• Neurotrophic factor brain-derived
• Inflammation
• Oxidative stress

ADHD and Attention Disorders

In more than one scientific study, Oroxylin A was shown to increase ADD and ADHD behavior in animals. It also affects dopamine uptake. The dopamine system is a key indicator of ADHD and ADD.

In one study, rats given oroxylin A showed improvement in attention and impulsivity due to enhanced dopamine neurotransmission.[4] This does not mean that Oroxylin A can treat ADHD in humans, but ti does mean that more research is needed here to establish whether this nootropic compound could become an effective therapy for ADHD or ADD.

May improve memory

Researchers gave mice drug-induced amnesia (memory impairment) to test the effects of oroxylin A on memory. They found that memory-impaired mice who took oroxylin were able to reverse cognitive impairments. The mice were able to escape successfully from training trials and showed improvements in their swimming skills and distances.

The medical community is increasingly concerned about chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (also known as “chemo brain”). Patients who undergo chemotherapy experience an increase in oxidative Stress and potential dysfunction to their cells’ powerhouse, the mitochondria.

Researchers gave mice oroxylin-A and chemotherapy in an animal study to evaluate the effects on brain function and brain health. After four weeks of treatment, researchers found that oroxylin A had prevented cancer-induced changes in oxidative and mitochondrial stress, as well as improved mitochondrial function in mice’s brains.

Oroxylin also significantly inhibited chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment during performance tests. [6]

May increase Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)

BDNF, a protein that plays an important role in neuroplasticity of the brain. It is involved in brain changes that affect learning and memory, and helps to maintain brain cells.

Researchers found that oroxylin A could upregulate BDNF expression in neuronal cells. This was confirmed by a test tube study. [8]

Anti-inflammatory action

Many chronic neurological diseases are linked to inflammation in the brain. Many of the diseases that we see in the West today are actually caused by inflammation.

The Indian trumpet tree was used as an ayurvedic remedy called “Dasamoola” in India. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory formula. [9]

Research has shown that oroxylin A, which comes from the Indian trumpet tree may be helpful in calming inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid joint pain. [10] [11]

Preliminary evidence also suggests that oroxylin A may be beneficial in reducing inflammation in the brain, which is linked to Alzheimer’s. [12]

Anti-oxidant

The brain’s excessive production of free radicals is one of the main causes of neurodegeneration. This can be seen in common diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzhemier. [13]

Oroxylin A has been shown to have antioxidant properties. Oroxylin A also has an antioxidant function, according to research.

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Oroxylin A Side Effects

There are no known adverse effects or long-term side effects of Oroxylin A use. However, this is more a result of a lack of human clinical trials than the inherent safety of the nootropic.

Most of the scientific studies looking at Oroxylin A have been rodent studies. Using mice does give us a rough indication of a compounds safety and toxicity, but it doesn’t translate exactly to humans and is unlikely to pick up on milder side effects that do not necessarily have external symptoms.

That said, the main mechanism of action of Oroxylin A – raising BDNF levels in the brain – is unlikely to cause any notable negative side effects.

We cannot recommend using a nootropic that hs not been thoroughly tested on humans in large scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.

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What is Sabroxy?: Our Review

Those of you looking into Oroxylin A more than likely came across it first as Sabroxy. This is a branded, standardized form of extract prepared from the dried bark of the Indian trumpet tree (Oroxylum indicum), containing a minimum of 10% Oroxylin A.

Sabroxy is sold over the counter as a nootropic.

Is Sabroxy a stimulant?

Yes, Sabroxy is a central nervous system stimulant. Like methylphenidate and other stimulant drugs, Sabroxy works by acting as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor and a negative allosteric modulator of the benzodiazepine site of the GABAa receptor. This makes it a stimulant, and a psychoactive stimulant at that.

Is Sabroxy Safe?

A study was carried out to evaluate the safety of Sabroxy® administration to the liver of the mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were administered with powdered food mixed with Sabroxy (500mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks.

After the treatment period, the possibility of hepatotoxicity was assessed by assaying the hepatic health markers in the serum and by liver histology. The results showed that Sabroxy did not affect the total body weight of the mice after 4 weeks of treatment period.

Sabroxy treatment also did not alter the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, albumin, globulin and total protein. Perhaps most importantly, Sabroxy did not affect the liver histology.

In this and other studies like it, Sabroxy (or Oroxylin A) was found to be safe upto 500mg/kg/day.

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Is Oroxylin A a good nootropic?

On balance, we don’t think Oroxylin A (or Sabroxy) is really worth taking.

There simply haven’t been enough studies done on Sabroxy to be absolutely certain of its efficacy as a cognitive enhancer. What’s more, there are other, more reliable nootropics for raising BDNF than Oroxylin A.

So on balance, we don’t think Oroxylin A is worth using until it has been studied a little more extensively.

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