Demand for foods, beverages and supplements that support mental energy is soaring as people look for ways to deal with modern life.
Research shows that 47% of global consumers will focus on prioritising their energy levels in the next 12 months, whereas 46% find claims to reduce tiredness and fatigue appealing.1,2
However, consumers — and older cohorts in particular — are wary of side-effects from traditional energy boosting products, with 46% considering them to be unhealthy.3
This is driving demand for better-for-you options, including natural energy drinks, which reported the largest growth in consumption in the US energy-beverage space between 2023 and 2024.4
A natural energy powerhouse
Our multi-award-winning mango tree leaf extract, Zynamite, was launched in 2018 to meet this growing consumer need for a 100% natural, clean-energy and non-stimulating alternative.
Derived from sustainably harvested leaves of the mango tree (Mangifera indica), it is clinically proven in human trials to boost mental energy and cognitive performance.
Its nootropic (cognitive enhancement) capabilities include reduced mental fatigue, improved attention, enhanced cognitive flexibility and increased mental clarity and emotional balance in demanding situations during a sustained period.
Crucially, these benefits come without any increase in heart rate or blood pressure.5 Zynamite’s effects are fast (30 minutes) and long-lasting (at least 5 hours) without producing crashes or jitters.
Furthermore, although the prolonged use of stimulants such as caffeine can lead to tolerance — requiring increasingly larger doses to achieve the desired effect — Zynamite does not cause desensitisation.
Water-soluble for functional beverages
Although Zynamite has been used in many formulations that provide support for cognition and energy, the low solubility of its main bioactive, mangiferin, has presented a challenge for beverage applications.
To address this, Nektium developed a proprietary smart-delivery technology to produce a water-soluble Zynamite grade that is optimised for use in beverages.
Clinical pharmacokinetic research by Nektium shows that its mangiferin is more bioavailable than in the original formulation.
Additional benefits for manufacturers include a neutral taste, virtually no impact on colour and organoleptics, and no effects on pH, brix or microbiological activity, with excellent shelf-life stability.
How Zynamite works
Studies show that Zynamite crosses the blood-brain barrier and activates electrical activity in an almost identical pattern to that induced by caffeine (and in the same three regions).
These are the frontal cortex, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which play a key role in mental energy, fatigue and attention.5 However, Zynamite has different mechanisms of action that do not result in unwanted side-effects.
Our research has found that mangiferin inhibits the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).5
This is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are important for optimal cognitive function.
By reducing COMT activity, mangiferin helps to maintain higher levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain for longer, which enhances their beneficial cognitive effects.
This discovery also substantiates the reported use of mango leaf tea as a traditional, centuries-old remedy for fatigue and exhaustion.5
Significant cognitive enhancements with water-soluble Zynamite
Our water-soluble Zynamite has demonstrated meaningful cognitive benefits.
In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 120 university students, 5 hours after a single 100 mg or 150 mg dose, performance was superior to placebo across multiple cognitive tasks.6
This included improvements in psychomotor attention (by 11.5% with 100 mg and 13.4% with 150 mg) and executive function (by 12.3% with 100 mg and 16.3% with 150 mg).
Processing speed was also consistently better. Furthermore, there was also a notable reduction in negative emotional states.
Tension scores, for example, improved by 35.4% with 100 mg and 52.3% with 150 mg at 5 hours post-ingestion, whereas general mood was 20% better 3 hours after consumption with both doses.
The natural way to boost energy
Zynamite delivers fast-acting benefits from a single low dose, supporting cognitive performance and mental energy levels.
Under cognitive stress conditions, water-soluble Zynamite enhances attention, speeds up reaction times and reduces brain fatigue, with no cardiovascular effects.
Owing to its mechanism of action, it can be used to completely replace caffeine in a product.
Water-soluble Zynamite is optimised for use in a wide range of applications. These include capsules, tablets, powder sticks and gummies, as well as ready-to-drink beverages, shots and shakes for on-the-go nutrition.
Zynamite is ideal for consumers who seek a proven natural solution to support clarity, attention and an improved emotional state, especially in demanding situations.
The enhanced solubility reinforces Zynamite’s role as a reliable, science-backed solution for non-stimulant energy and mental performance across categories such as energy, nootropics and sports nutrition.
The Nektium team continues to innovate, further developing the science behind the Zynamite portfolio and inspiring the industry with new application formats that meet the latest consumer trends.
References
- https://fmcggurus.com/top-trends-2025-global-report/.
- https://fmcggurus.com/top-ten-trends-for-2024/.
- https://fmcggurus.com/health-wellness-whats-next/.
- https://store.mintel.com/report/us-energy-drinks-market-report.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32473365/.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40284006/.
