Benefits
Body weight in a Sphaeranthus and Garcinia mangostana blend
The human weight evidence is for a blend, not the single herb. In two randomized, placebo-controlled trials, a Sphaeranthus indicus plus Garcinia mangostana blend at 800 mg a day, taken with a calorie-controlled diet and a daily walk, lowered body weight more than placebo over 8 to 16 weeks. The trials were funded by the ingredient's maker.
Waist size with the weight-management blend
In the same blend trials, waist circumference fell more than with placebo, and the longer trial also reported a larger drop in hip size. These measurements track body fat and went down alongside the weight change. The effect was seen only for the combined blend taken with diet and walking, not for Sphaeranthus indicus by itself.
Blood lipid markers with the weight-management blend
The 16-week blend trial reported larger reductions in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol than placebo, and the 8-week trial found a rise in adiponectin, a fat-tissue hormone. These metabolic changes came with diet-and-walking weight loss and from maker-funded studies of the blend, not the single herb.
Muscle strength with a Sphaeranthus and mango bark blend
A different blend pairs the herb with Mangifera indica (mango) bark. In two placebo-controlled trials in young men doing resistance training, this blend raised bench press and leg strength more than training with placebo. The gains were large, the trials were small and industry-funded, and the two plants were not tested separately.
Testosterone readings in young men in blend trials
In the mango-bark blend trials, young men with normal starting levels showed higher free and total testosterone than placebo after 8 weeks. In the larger trial the rise was not greater than in a placebo group that trained twice as hard, no symptom or libido outcome was measured, and the readings reflect the blend, not the single herb.
Mechanism of action
Eudesmanolide and sterol constituents
Chemical studies of Sphaeranthus indicus flower heads describe eudesmanolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, including 7-hydroxyfrullanolide, along with sesquiterpene acids, flavonoid glycosides and plant sterols. These are the constituents the standardized blend extracts are drawn from.
Fat-cell development and fat storage (laboratory work)
In fat-cell cultures, the weight-management blend lowered markers of fat-cell formation such as PPAR-gamma and raised adiponectin, and reduced lipid-droplet proteins. This adipocyte work is from cell studies of the blend, not human metabolic measurements, and does not isolate the Sphaeranthus component.
Antioxidant and anabolic signaling (cell and animal data)
In cell and rat studies of the mango-bark strength blend, the extract activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR anabolic signaling, raised nitric oxide markers and limited steroid-induced muscle loss. These are preclinical findings in the blend; the human trials did not measure these pathways.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a Sphaeranthus indicus and Garcinia mangostana blend, 400 mg twice daily (800 mg/day) versus placebo for 8 weeks, with a 2,000 kcal/day diet and 30 minutes of daily walking; maker-funded. (Stern et al. 2013, Obesity (Silver Spring))
60 adults with a body mass index of 30 to 40.
Over 8 weeks the blend group lost more body weight than placebo (net 3.74 kg), with larger falls in BMI (1.61) and waist circumference (5.44 cm) and a rise in serum adiponectin. Fat-cell culture work in the same paper showed lower PPAR-gamma. This tested the blend, not Sphaeranthus indicus alone.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the Sphaeranthus indicus and Garcinia mangostana blend (Meratrim, 800 mg/day) versus placebo for 16 weeks, with a 2,000 kcal/day diet and daily walking; industry-funded. (Kudiganti et al. 2016, Lipids Health Dis)
60 healthy overweight adults (mean BMI 28.3); 57 completed.
At 16 weeks the blend group lost more weight than placebo (5.09 vs 1.1 kg) with larger reductions in BMI, waist (9.97 vs 3.71 cm) and hip size (10.38 vs 5.11 cm), and greater falls in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol. No supplement-related adverse events. The blend was tested, not the single herb.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 56-day trial of a Sphaeranthus indicus and Mangifera indica blend (650 mg/day) with a fixed resistance-training program; funded by the ingredient maker. (Rokkam et al. 2023, Food Nutr Res)
40 recreationally active men aged 18 to 40 at a single site in India.
The blend group gained more bench press and leg press strength, handgrip and treadmill endurance than placebo, with more lean mass and a 17% rise in free testosterone, while cortisol fell. Gains were unusually large, the trial was small and single-site, diet was not controlled, and the two plants were not tested separately.
Four-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled 56-day trial of the Sphaeranthus indicus and Mangifera indica blend at 425 or 850 mg/day with one training set, against placebo with one or two sets; funded by a seller, with one author employed by the marketer. (Salter et al. 2024, Front Nutr)
120 previously untrained men aged about 19 to 29; 99 completed.
Both blend doses added bench press, leg extension and total strength over placebo with one training set, and beat placebo doing two sets on leg extension and total strength (850 mg also on bench press). Total and free testosterone beat single-set but not double-set placebo. The two placebo groups never differed significantly.