Best Nootropic Supplements in Australia: Ingredients and Doses Compared
The natural nootropic ingredient with the clearest human research behind it is bacopa extract, studied at 300 mg a day for at least 12 weeks. One of the key trials of the BacoMind extract was run right here in Australia, in healthy adults from regional New South Wales. Ginkgo, cordyceps, L-tyrosine and vitamin B6 are often used alongside bacopa, each for a different reason. To compare products in Australia, check the extract milligrams per day against the study dose, and check for an AUST L number.
I have developed more than 250 supplement formulations, and nootropics are the category where the gap between the ingredient list and the study dose can be widest. This guide puts the study doses side by side, including for our own formula, so you can check a label in under a minute. It is a buying guide built on published research, not a health claim.
In this article
How to compare a nootropic label
Four quick checks tell you whether a product lines up with the research.
- Look for a named extract. Trials test a specific extract, not just a plant. BacoMind, for example, is the bacopa extract used in the Australian trial covered below. A label that only says "bacopa" does not tell you which one you are getting.
- Compare the extract amount, not the plant amount. Australian labels often show two numbers, such as "extract 150 mg, from 3 g whole plant". The first number is the extract, and that is the one to compare with the research.
- Work out the daily amount. Most labels list amounts per capsule. Multiply by the number of capsules in the directions. Two capsules of 150 mg is 300 mg a day.
- Check for an AUST L number. It means the product is entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and you can look up its ingredients and quantities. For the full walkthrough, see how to read a supplement label.
Ingredients and study doses compared
These are the doses used in the human studies, with who was studied. Every study is listed in the sources at the end.
| Ingredient | Dose used in studies | Who was studied | What was measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacopa extract (BacoMind) | 300 mg a day for 12 weeks | 98 healthy Australians over 55, Lismore NSW | Verbal learning, memory acquisition and delayed recall |
| Ginkgo leaf extract | 240 mg a day for 6 weeks | 188 healthy adults aged 45 to 56 | Recall of appointments, a demanding memory task |
| Cordyceps (Cs-4) | About 1 g a day for 12 weeks | 20 healthy adults aged 50 to 75 | Energy metabolism during exercise |
| L-tyrosine | Single doses in grams, taken before a task | Healthy adults under short term stress or heavy mental load | Performance on short, demanding tasks |
| Vitamin B6 | TGA maximum of 100 mg a day in listed medicines | Adults | An essential nutrient; label warning required above 10 mg a day |
Bacopa and the Australian BacoMind trial
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri, also called brahmi) has the most consistent trial record of the herbal nootropics, and one of its best known trials is Australian. In a randomised, placebo controlled trial published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers recruited 98 healthy adults over 55 from the general population in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The trial ran in Lismore in 2005. Participants took 300 mg a day of the BacoMind extract or a placebo for 12 weeks.
In healthy Australians over 55, 300 mg a day of BacoMind for 12 weeks significantly improved verbal learning, memory acquisition and delayed recall compared with placebo.
For an Australian brand, that matters. It means the evidence for BacoMind includes people who live, eat and work much like our customers do, rather than relying only on overseas populations. Some participants did report stomach upset, which is one reason bacopa products are usually taken with food.
The wider research points the same way. A 2014 meta-analysis in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology pooled nine randomised, placebo controlled trials of at least 12 weeks, with 518 participants, most using 300 mg of extract a day. Bacopa improved two measures of speed of attention against placebo. So the numbers to check a bacopa label against are 300 mg of extract a day, taken consistently for 12 weeks.
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo leaf has been used for centuries and remains one of the best known nootropic ingredients. In a randomised trial published in Phytomedicine, 188 healthy adults aged 45 to 56 took 240 mg a day of a standardised ginkgo leaf extract or a placebo for six weeks. The ginkgo group was better at recalling appointments, a demanding real world memory task.
Results across trials in healthy people have been mixed. A 2012 meta-analysis in Human Psychopharmacology found little overall effect on memory in healthy adults, so the evidence is still building. Ginkgo is typically used as a supporting ingredient alongside bacopa rather than on its own, and 240 mg a day of leaf extract is the reference point from the positive trial.
Cordyceps and energy
Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom with a long history in traditional Chinese medicine, where it has been used to support energy and stamina. That is the role it plays in a focus formula: the energy side, working alongside the herbs chosen for memory and concentration.
The human research on cordyceps has focused on energy during physical effort. In a placebo controlled trial in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20 healthy adults aged 50 to 75 took a fermented cordyceps preparation called Cs-4, about 1 g a day, for 12 weeks. Their metabolic threshold during exercise rose by 10.5 per cent, with no change in the placebo group. That trial used a specific fermented preparation at a higher dose than most capsule formulas, so it is best read as background on why cordyceps is valued for energy.
L-tyrosine
L-tyrosine is an amino acid the body uses to make dopamine and noradrenaline, two neurotransmitters involved in attention and the stress response. A 2015 review in the Journal of Psychiatric Research concluded that tyrosine can support cognitive performance in short term, stressful or mentally demanding situations.
Those studies used single doses measured in grams. A 2018 trial in eNeuro, for example, gave healthy adults aged 61 to 72 a single dose of 150 mg per kilogram of body weight. In a daily capsule formula, tyrosine is usually included at a lower, everyday amount as a supporting amino acid.
Vitamin B6 and the TGA limits
Why B6 is used. Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient. According to the US National Institutes of Health, the body needs it for more than 100 enzyme reactions involved in metabolism, including the release of energy from food and the making of neurotransmitters. In a focus formula, it pairs with cordyceps on the energy side.
Why the TGA set limits. More is not better with B6. The TGA received adverse event reports of peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage felt as tingling, burning or numbness, usually in the hands or feet, linked to vitamin B6. In its 2022 safety review, two thirds of the cases with enough information involved daily doses of 50 mg or less, and some involved people taking several products containing B6 at once, often without realising it.
The current TGA values.
- Listed medicines must not provide more than 100 mg of vitamin B6 a day for adults, reduced from 200 mg.
- Any product providing more than 10 mg a day must carry a peripheral neuropathy warning on the label.
- From 1 June 2027, products with more than 50 mg a day will move behind the pharmacy counter, under the TGA's November 2025 decision. Products with 50 mg or less stay on general sale.
For context, the TGA puts the recommended dietary intake for a healthy adult at 1.3 to 1.7 mg a day. Ritua Focus provides 10 mg of vitamin B6 a day, which sits within every one of those limits: it does not exceed the 10 mg warning threshold, and it is one tenth of the 100 mg maximum. B6 also turns up in magnesium, stress, energy and multivitamin products, so it is worth adding up across everything you take.
What about caffeine?
Many products sold as nootropics rely on caffeine for the feeling of a lift. Some people prefer to keep caffeine to their morning coffee and choose a caffeine free formula for focus. If a product does contain caffeine, check that it is stated in milligrams and add it to your daily total. A Food Standards Australia New Zealand expert group found evidence of increased anxiety at around 3 mg per kilogram of body weight a day, which it put at about 240 mg a day for adults, roughly three cups of instant coffee.
Where Ritua Focus sits
Here is how our own formula compares. Ritua Focus is an AUST L listed medicine (AUST L 419677), and its ingredients are recorded on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The label lists amounts per capsule, and the directions are two capsules once daily with food, so the daily amounts below are double the per capsule amounts.
| Ingredient | Per capsule | Per day (2 capsules) | How it compares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacopa extract (BacoMind), from 3 g whole plant per capsule | 150 mg | 300 mg | Matches the 300 mg daily dose used in the Australian BacoMind trial |
| Ginkgo leaf extract, from 3 g dry leaf per capsule | 60 mg | 120 mg | Half the 240 mg used in the positive trial, as a supporting ingredient |
| Cordyceps extract, from 600 mg dry cordyceps per capsule | 150 mg | 300 mg | Included for its traditional use supporting energy and stamina |
| L-tyrosine | 100 mg | 200 mg | An everyday supporting amount; the stress studies used single gram doses |
| Vitamin B6 (as 6.1 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride per capsule) | 5 mg | 10 mg | Within TGA limits: not above the 10 mg warning threshold, one tenth of the 100 mg maximum |
Focus is built around BacoMind at the full 300 mg daily dose studied in Australian adults, with ginkgo and L-tyrosine alongside it, and cordyceps and vitamin B6 on the energy side of the formula. It contains no caffeine.
It is important to be clear about what the studies above are and are not. They tested individual extracts, not Ritua Focus, and they are not the basis of its listing. Ritua Focus is formulated to support mental clarity and concentration and to help maintain cognitive performance and memory, and bacopa is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to support memory and concentration.
Label information
Ritua Focus, AUST L 419677. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional. Not for prolonged use. Not recommended for pregnant or lactating women.
A checklist for the shelf
| What to check | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Extract | A named, studied extract such as BacoMind, not just the plant name |
| Dose per day | Extract milligrams per day that match the studied dose, after multiplying out the capsules |
| Where it was studied | Research that includes Australian participants is a plus |
| Blends | Every ingredient has its own amount; no proprietary blend hiding the numbers |
| Caffeine | Either caffeine free, or stated in milligrams so you can add it to your daily total |
| Vitamin B6 | Within TGA limits, and added up across every product you take |
| ARTG status | An AUST L number you can look up on the register |
The bottom line
If you are comparing nootropic supplements in Australia, start with bacopa. A named extract at around 300 mg a day, taken consistently for 12 weeks, is the dose with the strongest human research, and BacoMind has been studied at that dose in Australian adults. Ginkgo and L-tyrosine are common supporting ingredients, and cordyceps and vitamin B6 are often included for energy, with B6 kept within the TGA's limits.
The habit that matters most is doing the maths on the label: extract milligrams, per day, against the study dose. Most nootropic blends look similar on the front of the pack, and differ most in those numbers.
If you want to apply that checklist to ours, the full formula is on the Ritua Focus product page. For the same comparison on the calmer side of the shelf, see natural stress ingredients and doses compared, and for everyday habits that help, focus and productivity the Ritua way.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for guidance from your doctor, particularly if you are managing an existing health condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking medication. Herbal extracts can interact with some medicines, so check with your doctor or pharmacist first if you take any regularly.
Jasmine Meagher
BSc Food Science and Nutrition · Founder, Ritua
Jasmine founded Ritua to bring evidence-based, TGA-compliant supplements to Australian women. She writes about the research behind every ingredient Ritua sells.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most researched natural nootropic ingredient?
Among herbal ingredients, bacopa extract has the most consistent trial record. A 2014 meta-analysis pooled nine placebo controlled trials of at least 12 weeks, most using 300 mg of extract a day, and the BacoMind extract has been tested at that dose in a 12 week trial in Australian adults.
Has bacopa been studied in Australians?
Yes. A randomised, placebo controlled trial in Lismore, New South Wales, gave 98 healthy adults over 55 either 300 mg a day of BacoMind or a placebo for 12 weeks. The BacoMind group improved on verbal learning, memory acquisition and delayed recall.
How much bacopa should a supplement contain?
Most bacopa trials used 300 mg of extract a day, taken daily for 12 weeks or longer. Compare the extract milligrams on the label, not the dry herb equivalent, and multiply by the number of capsules in the daily directions. Ritua Focus provides 150 mg of BacoMind per capsule, or 300 mg a day across two capsules.
How much vitamin B6 is safe in a supplement?
The TGA limits listed medicines to 100 mg of vitamin B6 a day for adults and requires a peripheral neuropathy warning on any product providing more than 10 mg a day. From 1 June 2027, products above 50 mg a day become pharmacist only. Add up B6 across every product you take.
Does Ritua Focus contain caffeine?
No. Ritua Focus contains BacoMind bacopa, ginkgo, cordyceps, L-tyrosine and vitamin B6, and no caffeine, so it can sit alongside your usual coffee or tea.
How do I check whether a nootropic is AUST L listed?
Find the AUST L number on the pack and search it on the TGA's Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The public summary lists ingredients, quantities, permitted indications and required warnings. A listing means the product is entered on the register; it does not mean the TGA has evaluated whether it works.
Sources
- Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010.
- Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014.
- Randomised, placebo controlled trial of a ginkgo leaf extract on memory in healthy adults aged 45 to 56. Phytomedicine, 2011.
- Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysis. Human Psychopharmacology, 2012.
- Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double blind, placebo controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010.
- Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands: a review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2015.
- Neuro-cognitive effects of acute tyrosine administration on reactive and proactive response inhibition in healthy older adults. eNeuro, 2018.
- Vitamin B6: fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.
- Peripheral neuropathy with supplementary vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2022.
- Stronger safety controls to be introduced for products containing vitamin B6. Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2025.
- Caffeine. Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
- ARTG entry 419677 (Focus). Therapeutic Goods Administration.
- AUST L and AUST R numbers on medicine labels. Therapeutic Goods Administration.