Kanna
Sceletium tortuosum
Fermented Sceletium tortuosum from Southern African sourcing partnerships. Mesembrine-standardised, mood-regulation applications.
STANDARD
STANDARD
US STD
LIFE
Botanical reference
Sceletium tortuosum.
- Family
- Aizoaceae
- Plant part
- Whole plant (fermented)
- Origin
- South Africa
Overview
Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br.) is a low-growing succulent of the Aizoaceae family, native to the Western and Northern Cape of South Africa. Motark sources Kanna from Southern African grower and cooperative partnerships.
The harvested plant material is fermented prior to extraction in a controlled process that increases mesembrine and reduces less-desirable alkaloid fractions. Extraction is performed in GMP-aligned facilities, with mesembrine characterised by HPLC-MS against a reference standard at a standard release specification of ≥ 0.5% w/w. Higher-spec tiers are available against the formulation brief.
Traditional use
Sceletium tortuosum has a documented history of use among the Khoi-San communities of southern Africa, with European-language records dating to the seventeenth century. Traditional preparation centres on a controlled fermentation of the macerated plant, after which the material is dried and consumed in chewed or infused form.
Motark's compound monograph documents the traditional context as cultural background only. No therapeutic claims are made and no dosage guidance is provided through this site — these are matters for licensed practitioners and the regulatory frameworks of the markets in which finished products are sold.
Modern research
The principal characterised constituents of Sceletium tortuosum are a family of alkaloids of the mesembrine type, including mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol, and mesembranol. Mesembrine is the conventional standardisation marker; Motark's release specification is ≥ 0.5% w/w by HPLC-MS, with full alkaloid profile documented per batch.
Published peer-reviewed work covers phytochemistry, fermentation chemistry, and analytical method development. Citations available on request from the team.
Specifications
Release spec.
Standard commercial specification below. Higher-spec tiers and custom standardisations available against the formulation brief.
- Botanical name
- Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br.
- Family
- Aizoaceae
- Plant part
- Whole plant (fermented)
- Extraction solvent
- Hydroalcoholic (60% EtOH)
- Extraction ratio (DER)
- 10:1 standard
- Standardisation marker
- Mesembrine (HPLC-MS)
- Specification
- ≥ 0.5% w/w mesembrine; full alkaloid profile per batch
- Appearance
- Brown-green powder
- Particle size
- 80 mesh (US standard)
- Loss on drying
- ≤ 6.0%
- Heavy metals
- Pb < 0.5 ppm · As < 1.0 ppm · Cd < 0.3 ppm · Hg < 0.1 ppm
- Microbial
- TPC < 1,000 CFU/g · Y&M < 100 CFU/g · E. coli absent in 1 g
- Pesticide residues
- Compliant with USP <565>, EU MRLs
Markers and supply
Active markers and packaging.
Active markers
Mesembrine
≥ 0.5% w/w
Method: HPLC-MS
Total mesembrine-type alkaloids
≥ 1.0% w/w
Method: HPLC
Mesembrenone · mesembrenol · mesembranol
Individually profiled per batch
Method: HPLC-MS
Packaging
- Bulk powder
- 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg fibre drums (food-grade liner, vacuum-sealed)
- Custom packaging
- Available on request for OEM partners
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep container tightly closed and protected from moisture.
Shelf life: 24 months from date of manufacture when stored sealed under specified conditions
MesembrineStructure & references
Mesembrine.
The release marker for Kanna is Mesembrine, quantified by hplc-ms against a reference standard at a specification of ≥ 0.5%.
PubChem record
CID 394162Structural data, IUPAC name, SMILES, and physicochemical properties mirrored from the canonical record at the US National Library of Medicine.
Regulatory status
Status by market.
Regulatory framework summary for the markets covered as standard. Additional jurisdictions and custom dossier work routed through the regulatory team.
Applications
Common uses.
- Capsule and tablet supplements for mood, focus, and stress
- Sublingual sprays and tincture formulations
- Mood-stack and adaptogen blends
- Functional beverage and confectionery applications (where permitted)
- Custom-spec extract supply for OEM and contract manufacturers
Documentation pack
Standard deliverables.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) — per batch, retained 7 yearsPer batch
- Specification sheetPer batch
- Heavy metals reportPer batch
- Pesticide residue reportPer batch
- Microbial testing reportPer batch
- Stability dataPer batch
- Country of origin certificatePer batch
- Material Safety Data SheetPer batch
For procurement and formulation
Sample, quote, or full dossier.
Request a representative sample with the standard intake pack, pricing for your specified spec tier and annual volume, or the full regulatory dossier on request from the team.
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