Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults

Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults, a Randomized Controlled Trial

College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.

Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence brain function and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and beneficial changes to biomarkers with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.

College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.

Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence multiple neurobiological pathways such as neurotrophic signaling, neurotransmitter regulation, oxidative balance, and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and modulated biomarkers related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy young adults
• 18-30 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• medication/drug use that has not been consistent for the previous 3 months or will be discontinued during the trial
• unresolved chronic medical conditions (e.g., presence of persistent symptomology)
• diagnosed clinical depression
• acute illness
• regular use of cigarettes or marijuana
• pregnant or lactating women
• not fluent in English
• currently competing in sports or unusually high-intensity exercise protocols (e.g., high-intensity exercise greater than 30 minutes most days of the week)
• current use of ginseng or adaptogenic supplements, or allergy to ginseng
• any significant food allergies
• not willing to attend two in-person lab visits in downtown Phoenix and follow study protocol (including abstaining from caffeine in the 12 hours prior to testing)