Alpinia galanga (EnXtra)
Alpinia galanga is the rhizome of the galangal plant, a relative of ginger. In pre-workouts it almost always appears under the brand name EnXtra, a standardised extract. Three human studies report increased alertness at 300 to 600 mg per day without extra caffeine. All three were paid for by the maker of the extract.
What the research shows
Mixed or small evidence. The effect is uncertain.
Every human study was designed, funded and co-written by Enovate Biolife, the company behind EnXtra, part of OmniActive Health Technologies since 2024. The first author of both published trials is employed there. Independent replication does not exist. The measured outcomes are reaction times and self-reported alertness. That is why the evidence level is thin.
Who it makes sense for: People looking for wakefulness with less caffeine who accept that the evidence comes entirely from manufacturer research. At 150 mg per serving you get half the dose that was studied.
How we weigh evidenceClinical dosage
Origin
NaturalThe rhizome of Alpinia galanga is known as greater galangal and is used in Southeast Asian curry pastes and soups. For supplements the rhizome is extracted and standardised. On labels it reads as "EnXtra (Alpinia galanga) from rhizomes".
Safety
In the longest human study, 70 adults took 600 mg per day for twelve weeks, with or without 400 mg of caffeine. ECG, blood pressure and heart rate showed no change from baseline, and sleep quality stayed the same. A 90-day rat study arrived at a NOAEL of 3000 mg per kilogram of body weight per day and derived an acceptable daily intake of 1800 mg for humans. There is no research in pregnant women or in people under 18.
For comparison
In the acute study the effect of 200 mg of caffeine faded within three hours, while the alertness score for the galangal extract held up across five hours. In the combination group, mean response time dropped by 15.55 ms at three hours. All outcomes come from an attention test measured in milliseconds. Strength, reps and endurance were never measured in these studies.
Dosage by weight and gender
The tested dose is 300 mg of extract per intake, regardless of body weight (Srivastava et al., 2017). The twelve-week study used 600 mg per day (Srivastava et al., 2021). Separate doses for men and women have never been studied. A pre-workout delivering 150 mg per serving sits at half the studied dose; with such a product you only reach 300 mg on a double serving.
Scientific sources
The clinical dosages on this page are based on peer-reviewed research.
- Effect of Alpinia galanga on Mental Alertness and Sustained Attention With or Without Caffeine: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.Srivastava S et al. (2017)Funded by: Gefinancierd door Enovate Biolife, de ontwikkelaar van EnXtra. De eerste auteur is daar in dienst. De secundaire analyse van dezelfde trial (Open Access J Clin Trials 2018) vermeldt: Enovate Biolife betaalde de studie, leverde de producten en keurde de inzending goed.
- A Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial Demonstrating Safety & Efficacy of EnXtra(®) in Healthy Adults.Srivastava S et al. (2021)Funded by: Auteurs verbonden aan Enovate Biolife (afdeling Clinical development) en aan Vedic Lifesciences, het onderzoeksbureau dat de trial uitvoerde. Enovate Biolife maakt EnXtra.
- Subchronic toxicological evaluation of EnXtra™ (standardised extract of Alpinia galanga rhizome) in rats.Shanmugasundaram D (2022)Funded by: Uitgevoerd bij Vedic Lifesciences, hetzelfde onderzoeksbureau dat de humane EnXtra-trials deed. PubMed vermeldt geen belangenverklaring. Dierstudie, gebruikt voor de bovengrens en niet voor werking.
Pre-workouts with Alpinia galanga (EnXtra)
No products found with this ingredient
We keep the dosages and values on this page as accurate as possible based on selected studies. New research may change these values. Nothing on this page is medical advice. If you have any doubts, always consult a doctor.