This new study shows that CardaMind supports cognitive function both as a standalone ingredient and in combination with caffeine. Following a single dose, benefits were observed within one hour, including support for focus, accuracy, and reaction time. Effects were sustained for up to 3 hours when used alone and up to 8 hours when combined with caffeine. These findings position CardaMind as a plant-based solution that works with the body’s natural processes to support focus, attention, and cognitive performance. It can be used alone or with caffeine for an amplified effect, offering a clean-label option for consumers seeking alternatives to traditional energy products.
April 13, 2026 –Akay Bioactives, a leading global provider of plant-based, clinically substantiated bioactive ingredients, is expanding its portfolio with the launch of CardaMind™, a proprietary black cardamom fruit extract designed to support mental energy and cognitive performance. New human clinical trial results, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, further highlight CardaMind’s effects on cognitive performance, both alone and in combination with caffeine.
CardaMind supported key outcomes on CNS Vital Signs tasks, achieving statistical significance vs. placebo when used alone or in combination with caffeine. In a single-dose setting, effects were observed within one hour, supporting focus, accuracy, and reaction time. These effects were sustained for up to three hours when used alone; when combined with caffeine, they extended to five hours, with improvements in reaction time up to eight hours.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, four-arm, parallel-group study included 96 healthy volunteers with self-reported fatigue. The study evaluated the acute effects of CardaMind (250 mg), alone or with caffeine (200 mg), compared to caffeine alone and placebo. Cognitive performance endpoints included selective attention, executive function, processing speed, and accuracy, assessed using validated CNS Vital Signs tasks such as the Shifting Attention Test, Stroop Test, and Symbol Digit Coding Test.
Results showed significant improvements in processing speed and accuracy within the first 3 hours post-dose, including faster reaction time, more correct responses, and fewer errors on the Shifting Attention Test. The Symbol Digit Coding Test demonstrated improvements in correct responses and reduced errors, reflecting enhanced attention and information-processing speed. Improvements in cognitive flexibility and selective attention were also observed on Stroop tasks within the first 3 hours, with effects comparable to caffeine. Notably, the combination of CardaMind and caffeine produced greater and more sustained improvements, extending beyond the effect window of either intervention alone.
Specific highlights include:
- Shifting Attention Test (SAT)
- Faster reaction time and improved processing speed within 1–3 hours vs. placebo, with sustained effects up to 8 hours when combined with caffeine.
- Improved response accuracy within 1–3 hours, with extended benefits at 5 hours in the combination group.
- Reduced errors within 1–3 hours, with sustained improvements at 5 hours when combined with caffeine.
- Symbol Digit Coding (SDC)
- Improved accuracy (more correct responses) and reduced errors within 1–3 hours vs. placebo.
- Sustained improvements in correct responses and reduced errors up to 5 hours when combined with caffeine.
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Stroop Test
- Reduced simple reaction time within 1–3 hours vs. placebo and was sustained through 5 hours when combined with caffeine.
- Improved selective attention and cognitive flexibility (Stroop-Stroop reaction time) within the first 3 hours vs. placebo, with greater and more sustained effects through 5 hours when combined with caffeine.
These findings position CardaMind as a plant-based option for supporting mental energy and cognitive performance. The ingredient is mild in taste and water-soluble, making it suitable for capsules, powders, gummies, RTDs, and nootropic or pre-workout formulations.
“Caffeine is widely used, but it’s not the right solution for everyone,” said Frederik Krabbe Errebo, Head of Business Unit, Akay Bioactives. “These findings show that CardaMind offers a plant-based approach that works with the body’s natural processes while supporting mental energy and cognitive performance. When combined with caffeine, it provides a complementary effect, making it a compelling option for clean-label formulations.”
CardaMind is a standardised fruit extract from cultivated black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) that delivers fast-acting mental energy without caffeine. Produced using a water-based process, it preserves key bioactives that help sustain attention, accelerate cognitive processing, and boost task efficiency.