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 Single Doses of Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) with Human CNS Nicotinic and Muscarinic Receptor-Binding Properties
Melissa officinalis ( Lemon balm ) is a herbal medicine that has traditionally been attributed with memory-enhancing properties , but which is currently more widely used as a mild sedative and sleep aid . In a previous study it was demonstrated that a commercial Melissa extract led to dose-specific increases in calmness , and dose-dependent decrements in timed memory task performance . However , the extract utilized in that study did not exhibit in vitro cholinergic receptor-binding properties . The current study involved an initial screening of sample s of M. officinalis for human acetylcholinesterase inhibition and cholinergic receptor-binding properties . The cognitive and mood effects of single doses of the most cholinergically active dried leaf were then assessed in a r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind , balanced crossover study . Following the in vitro analysis , 20 healthy , young participants received single doses of 600 , 1000 , and 1600 mg of encapsulated dried leaf , or a matching placebo , at 7-day intervals . Cognitive performance and mood were assessed predose and at 1 , 3 , and 6 h postdose using the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment battery and Bond – Lader visual analog scales , respectively . In vitro analysis of the chosen extract established IC50 concentrations of 0.18 and 3.47 mg ml−1 , respectively , for the displacement of [3H]-(N)-nicotine and [3H]-(N)-scopolamine from nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the human cerebral cortex tissue . However , no cholinesterase inhibitory properties were detected . The most notable cognitive and mood effects were improved memory performance and increased ‘ calmness ’ at all postdose time points for the highest ( 1600 mg ) dose . However , while the profile of results was overwhelmingly favorable for the highest dose , decrements in the speed of timed memory task performance and on a rapid visual information-processing task increased with decreasing dose . These results suggest that doses of Melissa officinalis at or above the maximum employed here can improve cognitive performance and mood and may therefore be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of Alzheimer 's disease . The results also suggest that different preparations derived from the same plant species may exhibit different properties depending on the process used for the sample preparation
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 .