Korean J Biol Psychiatry.
2015 May;22(2):63-77. 10.0000/kjbp.2015.22.2.63.
Effects of the Combination Herbal Extract on Working Memory and White Matter Integrity in Healthy Individuals with Subjective Memory Complaints : A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
- Affiliations
-
- 1Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. leesunhea@ewha.ac.kr
- 2Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, College of Health Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- 3BioFood Network, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
- 5Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Graduate School, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- 6School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
- 7Green Cross Laboratories, Yongin, Korea.
- 8Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- 9Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
- KMID: 2299829
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjbp.2015.22.2.63
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The combination extract of four kinds of herbs, Gastrodia elata, Liriope platyphylla, Dimocarpus longan, and Salvia miltiorrhiza, has shown to have memory improving effects in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the herbal mixture for improving working memory as well as microstructural changes in white matter integrity in individuals with subjective memory complaints.
METHODS
Seventy-five individuals with subjective memory complaints were assigned to receive either placebo (n = 15) or herbal mixture (low-dose group, n = 30 and high-dose group, n = 30) supplementation in an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Changes in working memory performance and fractional anisotropy (FA) values reflecting white matter integrity from baseline to 8-week endpoint were assessed.
RESULTS
The herbal mixture group showed an increase in working memory performance compared to the placebo group (p for interaction = 0.001). In addition, the herbal mixture group showed an increase in FA values in the temporo-parietal regions (corrected p < 0.05), which are crucially involved in working memory function and are among the most affected regions in patients with cognitive impairments.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings from this study indicate that the herbal mixture may be a promising therapeutic option for individuals with subjective memory complaints.
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