Collectively , the literature reveals pre clinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways , with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals , along with good safety and tolerability profiles
Anxiety disorders are chronic and functionally disabling conditions with high psychological stress , characterised by cognitive symptoms of excessive worry and focus difficulties and physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and insomnia .
Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system and is a key target of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of anxiety .
Although current pharmaceutical treatments are often efficacious , they may cause undesirable side effects including cognitive decrements and withdrawal symptoms .
Plant-based " phytomedicines " may provide novel treatment options , to act as an adjunctive or alternative to existing anxiolytic medications .
As such , we conducted a systematic review to assess the current body of literature on anxiolytic phytomedicines and /or phytoconstituents .
Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
Melissa officinalis ( lemon balm ) is a traditional herbal medicine , which enjoys contemporary usage as a mild sedative , spasmolytic and antibacterial agent . It has been suggested , in light of in vitro cholinergic binding properties , that Melissa extracts may effectively ameliorate the cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer 's disease . To date , no study has investigated the effects on cognition and mood of administration of Melissa to healthy humans . The present r and omised , placebo-controlled , double-blind , balanced-crossover study investigated the acute effects on cognition and mood of a st and ardised extract of M. officinalis .  Twenty healthy , young participants received single doses of 300 , 600 and 900 mg of M. officinalis ( Pharmaton ) or a matching placebo at 7-day intervals . Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cognitive Drug Research ( CDR ) computerised test battery and two serial subtraction tasks immediately prior to dosing and at 1 , 2.5 , 4 and 6 h thereafter . In vitro IC(50 ) concentrations for the displacement of [3H]-(N)-nicotine and [3H]-(N)-scopolamine from nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in human occipital cortex tissue were also calculated . Results , utilising the cognitive factors previously derived from the CDR battery , included a sustained improvement in Accuracy of Attention following 600 mg of Melissa and time- and dose-specific reductions in both Secondary Memory and Working Memory factors . Self-rated " calmness , " as assessed by Bond-Lader mood scales , was elevated at the earliest time points by the lowest dose , whilst " alertness " was significantly reduced at all time points following the highest dose . Both nicotinic and muscarinic binding were found to be low in comparison to the levels found in previous studies
Collectively , the literature reveals pre clinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways , with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals , along with good safety and tolerability profiles
Anxiety disorders are chronic and functionally disabling conditions with high psychological stress , characterised by cognitive symptoms of excessive worry and focus difficulties and physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and insomnia .
Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system and is a key target of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of anxiety .
Although current pharmaceutical treatments are often efficacious , they may cause undesirable side effects including cognitive decrements and withdrawal symptoms .
Plant-based " phytomedicines " may provide novel treatment options , to act as an adjunctive or alternative to existing anxiolytic medications .
As such , we conducted a systematic review to assess the current body of literature on anxiolytic phytomedicines and /or phytoconstituents .