Ingredient
Forskolin, grapefruit seed, raspberry ketones in ZenCortex: What the Label and the Research Say
Forskolin (line 9), grapefruit seed extract (line 11) and raspberry ketones (line 13) are three plant lines in the ZenCortex Proprietary Herbal Blend. By label order they can weigh at most 22.2, 18.2 and 15.4 mg per 1 mL serving, and no amount is printed. Evidence for each is thin, and none is tied to hearing.
Written by the ZenCortex label deskUpdated
The ingredients01
What are forskolin, grapefruit seed extract and raspberry ketones in ZenCortex?
They are three separate lines in the 200 mg blend: forskolin from a mint-family root, grapefruit seed extract, and raspberry ketones, a lab-made form of the scent compound of red raspberries.
The label names them "Forskohlii (root) extract (Coleus forskohlii)", "Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Seed Extract" and "Raspberry Ketones". Forskolin and raspberry ketones are mostly sold for weight, and grapefruit seed extract is sold as an antioxidant and antimicrobial.
Weight is not what the bottle promises. Its claim is "Supports Healthy Hearing†". These ingredients are in a hearing formula for reasons the label does not give.
| Name on the label | Forskohlii (root) extract (Coleus forskohlii) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Root extract of a mint-family plant |
| Place on the label | Line 9 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per serving (1 mL) | At most 22.2 mg per 1 mL serving (label order); 9.1 mg if the 22 lines were split evenly |
| What research used | No standard dose on the cited pages |
| Strength of evidence | The page says clinical studies of safety and effectiveness are lacking; human trials found no effect on body weight. Nothing on hearing |
| Marketed or traditional use | Marketed for weight and metabolism |
| Main caution | Low blood pressure, slow or fast heart rate, headache and stomach symptoms are reported; possible added effects with blood-pressure drugs and blood thinners. |
| Name on the label | Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Seed Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Extract of grapefruit seeds and pulp |
| Place on the label | Line 11 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per serving (1 mL) | At most 18.2 mg per 1 mL serving (label order); 9.1 mg if the 22 lines were split evenly |
| What research used | No cited page found for a dose |
| Strength of evidence | We could not fetch an authoritative page for the seed extract, so we make no evidence claim about it |
| Marketed or traditional use | Marketed as an antioxidant and antimicrobial |
| Main caution | FDA's grapefruit page covers juice and fruit, not the seed extract. Ask your pharmacist if you take medicine that carries a grapefruit warning. |
| Name on the label | Raspberry Ketones |
|---|---|
| What it is | The scent compound of red raspberries, made in a lab for supplements |
| Place on the label | Line 13 of 22 in the 200 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per serving (1 mL) | At most 15.4 mg per 1 mL serving (label order); 9.1 mg if the 22 lines were split evenly |
| What research used | Supplement doses of 100 to 1,400 mg a day have been used, far above food intake |
| Strength of evidence | Only one human trial, on a multi-ingredient product; a review says it cannot be recommended. Nothing on hearing |
| Marketed or traditional use | Marketed for weight loss |
| Main caution | A review notes possible cardiotoxicity and interactions with diabetes drugs and warfarin. |
Label position02
How much forskolin, grapefruit seed and raspberry ketones are in ZenCortex?
The label prints no amount for any of them. Label order caps forskolin at 22.2 mg, grapefruit seed extract at 18.2 mg and raspberry ketones at 15.4 mg per serving.
The caps follow from the weight rule for blends (eCFR, 21 CFR 101.36 Supplement Facts). Line 9 can be at most 200 divided by 9, line 11 at most 200 divided by 11, and line 13 at most 200 divided by 13. Each is a ceiling, not an amount.
An even split of the blend would be about 9.1 mg per line, and the label sets no floor for these three. Two droppers a day double every figure below.
| Line | Place | Most per serving | Most per day (2 droppers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forskolin (coleus) | 9 of 22 | 22.2 mg | 44.4 mg |
| Grapefruit seed extract | 11 of 22 | 18.2 mg | 36.4 mg |
| Raspberry ketones | 13 of 22 | 15.4 mg | 30.8 mg |
Forskolin03
What does the research say about forskolin?
Forskolin is the root extract of Coleus forskohlii, used in Ayurveda, and the evidence is thin. Memorial Sloan Kettering says clinical studies showing safety and effectiveness are lacking (MSK, Forskolin).
For weight loss it cites one small study in overweight or obese men. NIH's weight-loss fact sheet adds that human trials found no effect on body weight, one trial found a small decrease in body fat in men, loose stools are possible, and long-term safety has not been evaluated (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss).
Reported adverse effects include low blood pressure, slow or fast heart rate, headache and stomach symptoms. It may add to blood pressure drugs and blood thinners. We did not find a source that ties it to hearing, and we cite no studied dose.
Grapefruit seed04
What about grapefruit seed extract and medicines?
We could not find an authoritative page on grapefruit seed extract, so we make no evidence claim about it.
The medicine question is related but separate. FDA says grapefruit juice blocks an intestinal enzyme and lets more of certain drugs reach the blood, naming simvastatin, atorvastatin, nifedipine and others, while fexofenadine levels fall (FDA, Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs). That page covers juice and fruit, not the seed extract.
So we do not know whether this extract acts the same way. The sensible step is to ask a pharmacist if any of your medicines carries a grapefruit warning. General advice is to tell every provider about every supplement (NCCIH, Using Dietary Supplements Wisely).
Do not stop a statin or other medicine because of a grapefruit warning. Ask your pharmacist first. See ZenCortex side effects.
ZenCortex: from $49 a bottle60 mL drops · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsRaspberry ketones05
Do raspberry ketones work for weight or hearing?
There is little human evidence, and none for hearing. A 2019 review found animal and cell data but only one human trial, of 70 obese people over 8 weeks, using a multi-ingredient product (Int J Obes Suppl 2019, weight-loss supplements review).
The review notes supplement doses of 100 to 1,400 mg a day are far above dietary intake, flags possible cardiotoxicity, and warns of possible interactions with diabetes drugs and warfarin. It concludes raspberry ketone cannot be recommended for weight loss at this time.
NIH likewise says raspberry ketone has been studied only in combination with other ingredients, so evidence is insufficient for firm conclusions (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss). The ZenCortex ceiling is 15.4 mg per serving, below the 100 mg bottom of the studied range.
Forskolin
Trials found no effect on body weight; nothing on hearing.
Grapefruit seed
No authoritative page found; no evidence claim.
Raspberry ketones
One human trial, multi-ingredient; not recommended for weight.
Marketing check06
Why are weight-loss ingredients in a hearing formula?
The label does not explain it, and we found no hearing evidence for any of the three. Weight is the usual reason these lines are sold.
That fits a pattern in the whole blend, which also holds African mango and L-carnitine. NIH lists weight supplements as a category where evidence is often limited (NIH ODS, Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss). FDA keeps notices on supplements found to contain hidden drugs (FDA, Public Notifications - Health Fraud), so a label that names every ingredient, as this one does, is the right starting point.
The bottle itself stays modest, and FDA does not approve supplements before sale (FDA, Dietary Supplements).
Keep reading07
Which ZenCortex ingredient pages should I read next?
See African mango, bird pepper and Gymnema sylvestre.
The full panel is on the supplement facts page, and packs are on the ZenCortex price page.
FAQ08
ZenCortex questions people ask
What is forskolin in a supplement?
Forskolin is the root extract of Coleus forskohlii, used in Ayurveda. Memorial Sloan Kettering says clinical studies of its safety and effectiveness are lacking. The ZenCortex label lists it at line 9, with no amount.
Does forskolin help with weight?
Human trials found no effect on body weight, according to NIH, with one trial showing a small decrease in body fat in men. Loose stools are possible and long-term safety has not been evaluated.
Are raspberry ketones from real raspberries?
The label lists the compound as Raspberry Ketones without a source, and supplement versions are usually made in a lab. A 2019 review found one human trial, on a multi-ingredient product, so it cannot be recommended for weight.
Does grapefruit seed extract interact with medicines?
We found no authoritative page on the seed extract. FDA warns about grapefruit juice with certain drugs, but that page covers juice and fruit only. Ask your pharmacist if any of your medicines has a grapefruit warning.
What is the most raspberry ketones in one ZenCortex dropper?
At most 15.4 mg, which is 200 mg divided by 13, because it is listed 13th. The label sets no floor and prints no amount. Supplement studies used 100 to 1,400 mg a day.
Can forskolin lower blood pressure?
Memorial Sloan Kettering lists low blood pressure among its adverse effects and notes possible additive effects with blood pressure drugs and blood thinners. If you take either, ask your doctor first and keep taking your medicine.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Thezencortex, a retailer of ZenCortex, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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