Efficacy of a nootropic spearmint extract on reactive agility: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial

The Role of Dietary Ingredients in Mental Energy - A Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Low mental energy can contribute to decreased productivity, altered life balance, decreased physical performance, and ultimately affect quality of life. As such, there is a great demand for food and beverage products that positively impact mental energy. Numerous products claim to alter mental energy making continued review of the scientific evidence critical. The objective of this study was to conduct a scoping review of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of 18 dietary ingredients on mental energy outcomes in adults without severe disease. Methods: A literature search, completed using PubMed, resulted in the identification of 2261 articles, 190 of which met eligibility from initial abstract review. Full-text review was completed on the 190 studies which resulted in 101 articles that fully met eligibility for inclusion in this study. The search strategy for two ingredients did not yield any eligible studies, leaving studies for 16 ingredients that were extracted and summarized by reported significantly improved outcomes for cognition, mood and perceived feelings, and sleep assessments. The preliminary results for several dietary ingredients directionally suggested a mental energy benefit (≥20% of outcomes), including ashwagandha, chamomile, dark chocolate, ginseng, green tea, lavender, lion's mane mushroom, maca, tart cherries, turmeric, and valerian root. The results of this scoping review suggest that of the 16 dietary ingredients reviewed, 11 may be promising for further exploration on their potential benefits in supporting mental energy. Given consumer demand and market growth for food and beverage products that positively impact mental energy; continued efforts in assessment method alignment and additional evaluation in well-designed trials is warranted.KEY TEACHING POINTSOf the 16 dietary ingredients reviewed, 11 (ashwagandha, chamomile, dark chocolate, ginseng, green tea, lavender, lion's mane mushroom, maca, melatonin foods, turmeric, and valerian root) may be promising for further exploration on their potential mental energy benefits.Dark chocolate, ginseng, ashwagandha, and lion's mane mushroom were the most promising ingredients for further evaluation in the cognition domain of the ingredients evaluated.Turmeric, maca, lavendar, and ashwagandha were the most promising ingredients for further evaluation in the mood and perceived feelings domain of the ingredients evaluated.Ashwagandha, chamomile, green tea, melatonin foods, valerian root were the most promising ingredients for further evaluation in the sleep domain of the ingredients evaluated.Additional, well-designed, consistent, clinical trials and systematic reviews are warranted as the challenge of heterogeneity in mental energy study design remains.

Efficacy of a Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) Extract as Nutritional Support in a Rat Model of Hypertensive Glaucoma

Purpose

Glaucoma is an eye-brain axis disorder characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Although the role of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in glaucoma has been established, the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation has emerged as a promising target for neuronal tissue-supporting glaucoma management. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of a proprietary spearmint extract (SPE) on RGC density, activity, and neuronal health markers in a rat model of hypertensive glaucoma.

Methods

Animals were divided in four groups: untreated healthy control and three glaucomatous groups receiving orally administered vehicle, SPE-low dose, or SPE-high dose for 28 days. Ocular hypertension was induced through intracameral injection of methylcellulose at day 15. At day 29, rats underwent electroretinogram (ERG) recordings, and retinas were analyzed for RGC density and markers of neural trophism, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Results

SPE exerted dose-dependent response benefits on all markers except for IOP elevation. SPE significantly improved RGC-related ERG responses, cell density, neurotrophins, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers. Also, in SPE-high rats, most of the parameters were not statistically different from those of healthy controls.

Conclusions

SPE, a plant-based, polyphenolic extract, could be an effective nutritional support for neuronal tissues.

Translational Relevance

These results suggest that SPE not only may be a complementary approach in support to hypotensive treatments for the management of glaucoma but may also serve as nutritional support in other ocular conditions where antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective mechanism are often disrupted.

Neuroprotective Effect of a Nutritional Supplement Containing Spearmint Extract, Forskolin, Homotaurine and Group B Vitamins in a Mouse Model of Transient Ocular Hypertension

Glaucoma is one of the most common sight-threatening eye disorders and one of the main causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. The current therapies focusing on reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) are often insufficient to prevent the progression of the disease, so the therapeutic management of glaucoma remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective, IOP-lowering independent effects of a nutritional supplement containing forskolin, homotaurine, spearmint extract and vitamins of the B group in a model of acute glaucoma developed in mice. Glaucoma was induced in adult wild-type C57BL/6J mice by transient elevation of IOP. The dietary supplement, branded as Gangliomix^® (125 mg/kg/day), was administered by oral gavage for 17 days and ocular hypertension was induced on the 10th day of treatment. A histological analysis of the retinas was performed and RGC survival was evaluated with fluorogold labeling and Brn3a immunostaining on wholemount and retinal sections. Expression of alpha-spectrin, caspase-3, PARP-1 and GFAP was studied with western blotting or immunofluorescence. A significant increase in RGC survival was reported in the retina of mice treated with the dietary supplement as compared to vehicle-treated animals. The observed neuroprotection was associated with a calpain activity decrease, reduction in caspase-3 and PARP-1 activation, and prevention of GFAP upregulation. These effects were independent from the hypotensive effects of the supplement. Altogether, our data suggest that the dietary supplementation with forskolin, homotaurine, spearmint extract and vitamins of the B group supports RGC survival and may offer beneficial effects in glaucoma patients in combination with the currently used IOP-lowering therapy.

Clinical Evidence of the Benefits of Phytonutrients in Human Healthcare

Phytonutrients comprise many different chemicals, including carotenoids, indoles, glucosinolates, organosulfur compounds, phytosterols, polyphenols, and saponins. This review focuses on the human healthcare benefits of seven phytochemical families and highlights the significant potential contribution of phytonutrients in the prevention and management of pathologies and symptoms in the field of family health. The structure and function of these phytochemical families and their dietary sources are presented, along with an overview of their potential activities across different health and therapeutic targets. This evaluation has enabled complementary effects of the different families of phytonutrients in the same area of health to be recognized.

Rosmarinic Acid-Human Pharmacokinetics and Health Benefits

Rosmarinic acid is a phenolic compound commonly found in the Lamiaceae (Labiateae) plant species. It is considered responsible for a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities of plants containing this compound. The aim of the current review is to present the fate of rosmarinic acid inside the human body, explained through pharmacokinetic steps and to briefly present the health benefits of RA. Pharmacokinetics was at first studied in animal models, but several studies were conducted in humans as well. This compound can be applied topically, pulmonary, intranasally, and via intravenous infusion. However, peroral application is the main route of entry into the human body. Presumably, it is mainly metabolized by the gut microflora, providing simple, more easily absorbed phenolic units. Inside the body, the rosmarinic acid molecule undergoes structural changes, as well as conjugation reactions. Renal excretion represents the main path of elimination. Previously conducted studies reported no serious adverse effects of herbal remedies containing RA, as well as their positive effects on human health. In addition to in vitro studies, clinical investigations suggested its benefits in dermatological, allergic, and osteoarthritic disorders, as well as for improving cognitive performance and in metabolic syndrome treatment. Future studies should investigate the kinetics during long-term application in patients who would have potential benefits from RA usage. Pharmaceutical formulations designed to prevent the fast metabolism of RA and allow its penetration into other compartments of the human body are also interesting topics for future research.

Antioxidative effects of a novel dietary supplement Neumentix in a mouse stroke model

BACKGROUND

During an acute stroke, reactive oxygen species are overproduced and the endogenous antioxidative defense systems are disrupted. Therefore, antioxidative therapy can be a promising scheme to reduce the severity of stroke. Neumentix is a novel antioxidative supplement produced from a patented mint line and contains a high content of rosmarinic acid (RA). Although Neumentix has proven diverse efficacy and safety in clinical trials, its effect on strokes is unclear.

METHODS

Mice that were treated with Neumentix or vehicle for 14 days underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 60 min. Mice were sacrificed 5 days after tMCAO.

RESULTS

Neumentix preserved body weight after tMCAO, showed a high antioxidative effect in serum, and reduced infarction volume compared to the vehicle. The expression of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine was reduced in Neumentix-treated mice.

CONCLUSION

The antioxidative effect of Neumentix was confirmed. This is the first report to demonstrate the antioxidative effect of Neumentix on strokes.

Role of phytochemicals as nutraceuticals for cognitive functions affected in ageing

Cognitive decline can occur with normal ageing and in age-related brain disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, with limited pharmacological therapies available. Other approaches to reduce cognitive decline are urgently needed, and so, the role of dietary interventions or nutraceuticals has received much attention in this respect. In this review, we examine the evidence for dietary plants and their chemical constituents as nutraceuticals, relevant to both cognitive decline in normal ageing and in dementia. Pharmacological (in vitro and in vivo), clinical and epidemiological evidence is assessed for both frequently consumed plants and their dietary forms, including tea, coffee, cocoa (chocolate), red wine, grapes, citrus and other fruits; in addition to plants used less frequently in certain diets and those that cross the blurred boundaries between foods, nutraceuticals and medicinal plants. For the latter, turmeric, saffron, sage, rosemary and lemon balm are examples of those discussed. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on The Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.6/issuetoc.