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 .
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study.
CONTEXT Anxiety and depression are the most commonly reported psychiatric conditions and frequently occur as comorbid disorders . While the advent of conventional drug therapies has simplified treatment , a large segment of the population goes untreated or declines conventional therapy for financial , cultural , or personal reasons . Therefore , the identification of inexpensive and effective alternative therapies for anxiety and depression is of relevance to public health . OBJECTIVE The current study explores data from a 2009 clinical chamomile trial in humans to determine if chamomile provides clinical ly meaningful antidepressant activity versus a placebo . DESIGN In the 2009 r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study , the research team examined the antianxiety and antidepressant action of oral chamomile ( Matricaria recutita ) extract in participants with symptoms of comorbid anxiety and depression . SETTING In the 2009 study , all of participants ' evaluations took place at the Depression Research Unit at the University of Pennsylvania . The study drew participants from patients at the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health 's primary care clinic at the University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia . PARTICIPANTS Of the 57 participants in the 2009 trial , 19 had anxiety with comorbid depression ; 16 had anxiety with a past history of depression ; and 22 had anxiety with no current or past depression . INTERVENTION The intervention and placebo groups in the 2009 trial received identically appearing 220-mg capsules containing either pharmaceutical- grade chamomile extract st and ardized to a content of 1.2 % apigenin or a placebo ( ie , lactose monohydrate NF ) , respectively . OUTCOME MEASURES In the current study , the research team used generalized estimating equations analysis to identify clinical ly meaningful changes over time in scores from the Hamilton Depression Rating ( HAM-D ) question naire among treatment groups . RESULTS In the current study , the research team observed a significantly greater reduction over time in total HAM-D scores for chamomile vs placebo in all participants ( P < .05 ) . The team also observed a clinical ly meaningful but nonsignificant trend for a greater reduction in total HAM-D scores for chamomile vs placebo in participants with current comorbid depression ( P = .062 ) . When the team examined the HAM-D core mood item scores , it observed a significantly greater reduction over time for chamomile vs placebo in all participants ( P < .05 ) and a clinical ly meaningful but nonsignificant trend for a greater reduction over time for chamomile vs placebo in participants without current or past depression ( P = .06 ) . CONCLUSION Chamomile may provide clinical ly meaningful antidepressant activity that occurs in addition to its previously observed anxiolytic activity
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 .