Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against modafinil: A review and comparison of effect sizes

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Volumn 75, Issue 3, 2013, Pages 728-737

  Neale, Chris ^a   Camfield, David ^a   Reay, Jonathon ^b   Stough, Con ^a   Scholey, Andrew ^a  

^a SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (Australia)

^b NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Bacopa; Cognitive enhancer; Ginseng; Modafinil; Nootropic

Indexed keywords

GINSENOSIDE; HERBACEOUS AGENT; MODAFINIL; NUTRACEUTICAL; PLACEBO;

ACUTE DISEASE; ARTICLE; BACOPA; CHRONIC DISEASE; CLINICAL TRIAL (TOPIC); COGNITION; COGNITIVE DEFECT; DEPTH PERCEPTION; DRUG HALF LIFE; EFFECT SIZE; GINSENG; HUMAN; NARCOLEPSY; NEUROMODULATION; NONHUMAN; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SINGLE DRUG DOSE;

BACOPA; BENZHYDRYL COMPOUNDS; CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM STIMULANTS; CLINICAL TRIALS AS TOPIC; COGNITION; DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS; DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP, DRUG; HUMANS; MEMORY; NOOTROPIC AGENTS; PANAX; PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE;

EID: 84873162091     PISSN: 03065251     EISSN: 13652125     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12002     Document Type: Article

References (54)

1. Sahakian B, Morein-Zamir S. Professor's little helper. Nature 2007; 450: 1157-1159.
2. Repantis D, Schlattmann P, Laisney O, Heuser I. Modafinil and methylphenidate for neuroenhancement in healthy individuals: a systematic review. Pharmacol Res 2010; 62: 187-206.
3. Maher B. Poll results: look who's doping. Nature 2008; 452: 674-675.
4. Scholey A, Kennedy D, Wesnes K. The psychopharmacology of herbal extracts: issues and challenges. Psychopharmacology 2005; 179: 705-707.
5. Kennedy DO, Dodd FL, Robertson BC, Okello EJ, Reay JL, Scholey AB, Haskell CF. Monoterpenoid extract of sage (Salvia lavandulaefolia) with cholinesterase inhibiting properties improves cognitive performance and mood in healthy adults. J Psychopharmacol 2011; 25: 1088-1100.
6. Scholey AB, Tildesley NTJ, Ballard CG, Wesnes KA, Tasker A, Perry EK, Kennedy DO. An extract of Salvia (sage) with anticholinesterase properties improves memory and attention in healthy older volunteers. Psychopharmacology 2008; 198: 127-139.
7. Tildesley N, Kennedy DO, Perry EK, Ballard CG, Savelev S, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. Salvia lavandulaefolia (Spanish Sage) enhances memory in healthy young volunteers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003; 75: 669-674.
8. Tildesley NTJ, Kennedy DO, Perry EK, Ballard C, Wesnes KA, Scholey A. Positive modulation of mood and cognitive performance following administration of acute doses of Salvia lavandulaefolia essential oil to healthy young volunteers. Physiol Behav 2005; 83: 699-709.
9. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Ginseng: potential for the enhancement of cognitive performance and mood. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003; 75: 687-700.
10. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA. Dose dependent changes in cognitive performance and mood following acute administration of Ginseng to healthy young volunteers. Nutr Neurosci 2001; 4: 295-310.
11. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity. J Psychopharmacol 2005; 19: 357-365.
12. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained 'mentally demanding' tasks. J Psychopharmacol 2006; 20: 771-781.
13. Calabrese C, Gregory WL, Leo M, Kraemer D, Bone K, Oken B. Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; 2008; 14: 707-713.
14. Morgan A, Stevens J. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med 2010; 16: 753-759.
15. Roodenrys S, Booth D, Bulzomi S, Phipps A, Micallef C, Dip G, Smoker J. Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory. Neuropsychopharmacology 2002; 27: 279-281.
16. Stough C, Downey LA, Lloyd J, Silber B, Redman S, Hutchison C. Examining the nootropic effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on human cognitive functioning: 90 days double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Phytother Res 2008; 22: 1629-1634.
17. Stough C, Lloyd J, Clarke J, Downey LA, Hutchison CW, Rodgers T, Nathan PJ. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology Springer Science & Business Media B.V.; 2001. 156: 481-484.
18. Scholey AB, Kennedy DO. Acute, dose-dependent cognitive effects of Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng and their combination in healthy young volunteers: differential interactions with cognitive demand. Hum Psychopharmacol 2002; 17: 35-44.
19. Cohen J. Statistical Power Analyses for the Behavioural Sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, 1988.
20. In Y, Tomoo K, Ishida T, Sakamoto Y. Crystal and molecular structure of an (S)-()-enantiomer of modafinil, a novel wake-promoting agent. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2004; 52: 1186-1189.
21. Minzenberg MJ, Carter CS. Modafinil: a review of neurochemical actions and effects on cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology 2008; 33: 1477-1502.
22. Wong YN, Simcoe D, Hartman LN, Laughton WB, King SP, McCormick GC, Grebow PE. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of modafinil tablets in healthy male volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol 1999; 39: 30-40.
23. Turner DC, Robbins TW, Clark L, Aron AR, Dowson J, Sahakian BJ. Cognitive enhancing effects of modafinil in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology 2003; 165: 260-269.
24. Randall DC, Viswanath A, Bharania P, Elsabagh SM, Hartley DE, Shneerson JM, File SE. Does modafinil enhance cognitive performance in young volunteers who are not sleep-deprived? J Clin Psychopharmacol 2005; 25: 175-179.
25. Winder-Rhodes SE, Chamberlain SR, Idris MI, Robbins TW, Sahakian BJ, Müller U. Effects of modafinil and prazosin on cognitive and physiological functions in healthy volunteers. J Psychopharmacol 2010; 24: 1649-1657.
26. Baranski JV, Pigeau R, Dinich P, Jacobs I. Effects of modafinil on cognitive and meta-cognitive performance. Hum Psychopharmacol 2004; 19: 323-332.
27. Randall DC, Fleck NL, Shneerson JM, File SE. The cognitive-enhancing properties of modafinil are limited in non-sleep-deprived middle-aged volunteers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2004; 77: 547-555.
28. Müller U, Steffenhagen N, Regenthal R, Bublak P. Effects of modafinil on working memory processes in humans. Psychopharmacology 2004; 177: 161-169.
29. Ghahremani DG, Tabibnia G, Monterosso J, Hellemann G, Poldrack RA, London ED. Effect of modafinil on learning and task-related brain activity in methamphetamine-dependent and healthy individuals. Neuropsychopharmacology 2011; 36: 950-959.
30. Randall DC, Shneerson JM, Plaha KK, File SE. Modafinil affects mood, but not cognitive function, in healthy young volunteers. Hum Psychopharmacol 2003; 18: 163-173.
31. Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. Advance Data Report #343. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults: United States.: National Center for Completmentary and Alternative Medicine 2002.
32. Tachikawa E, Kudo K, Harada K, Kashimoto T, Miyate Y, Kakizaki A, Takahashi E. Effects of ginseng saponins on responses induced by various receptor stimuli. Eur J Pharmacol 1999; 369: 23-32.
33. Gillis CN. Panax ginseng pharmacology: a nitric oxide link? Biochem Pharmacol 1997; 54: 1-8.
34. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Drewery L, Marsh VR, Moore B, Ashton H. Electroencephalograph effects of single doses of Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng in healthy young volunteers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003; 75: 701-709.
35. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. The glycaemic effects of single doses of Panax ginseng in young healthy volunteers. Br J Nutr 2006; 96: 639-642.
36. Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. Improved cognitive performance in human volunteers following administration of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract: comparison and interaction with Panax ginseng. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2004; 79: 401-411.
37. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Wesnes KA. Modulation of cognition and mood following administration of single doses of Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and a ginkgo/ginseng combination to healthy young adults. Physiol Behav 2002; 75: 739-751.
38. Reay JL, Scholey AB, Kennedy DO. Panax ginseng (G115) improves aspects of working memory performance and subjective ratings of calmness in healthy young adults. Hum Psychopharmacol 2010; 25: 462-471.
39. Sünram-Lea SI, Birchall RJ, Wesnes KA, Petrini O. The effect of acute administration of 400mg of Panax ginseng on cognitive performance and mood in healthy young volunteers. Curr Top Nutraceu Res 2005; 3: 65-74.
40. D'Angelo L, Grimaldi R, Caravaggi M. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the effect of a standardized ginseng extract on psychomotor performance in healthy volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol 1986; 16: 15-22.
41. Reay JL, Scholey AB, Milne A, Fenwick J, Kennedy DO. Panax ginseng has no effect on indices of glucose regulation following acute or chronic ingestion in healthy volunteers. Br J Nutr 2009; 101: 1673-1678.
42. Das A, Shanker G, Nath C, Pal R, Singh S, Singh HK. A comparative study in rodents of standardized extracts of Bacopa monniera and Ginkgo biloba: anticholinesterase and cognitive enhancing activities. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2002; 73: 893-900.
43. Russo A, Borrelli F. Bacopa monniera, a reputed nootropic plant: an overview. Phytomedicine 2005; 12: 305-317.
44. Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Kumar A, Ghosal S. Antioxidant activity of Bacopa monniera in rat frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus. Phytother Res 2000; 14: 174-179.
45. Hota SK, Barhwal K, Baitharu I, Prasad D, Singh SB, Ilavazhagan G. Bacopa monniera leaf extract ameliorates hypobaric hypoxia induced spatial memory impairment. Neurobiol Dis 2009; 34: 23-39.
46. Sairam K, Dorababu M, Goel RK, Bhattacharya SK. Antidepressant activity of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera in experimental models of depression in rats. Phytomedicine 2002; 9: 207-211.
47. Holcomb LA, Dhanasekaran M, Hitt AR, Young KA, Riggs M, Manyam BV. Bacopa monniera extract reduces amyloid levels in PSAPP mice. J Alzheimers Dis: IOS Press 2006; 9: 243-251.
48. Pase MP, Kean J, Sarris J, Neale C, Scholey AB, Stough C. The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri: a systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials. J Altern Complement Med 2012; 8: 647-652.
49. Nathan PJ, Clarke J, Lloyd J, Hutchison CW, Downey L, Stough C. The acute effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy normal subjects. Hum Psychopharmacol Clinical & Experimental: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 1996; 2001; 6: 345-351.
50. Ballon JS, Feifel D. A systematic review of modafinil: potential clinical uses and mechanisms of action. J Clin Psychiatry 2006; 67: 554-566.
51. Nathan PJ, Stough C. Inspection time: a neuropsychophysiological test for measuring the functional integrity of the cholinergic system. Med Hypotheses 2001; 57: 759-760.
52. Stoops WW, Lile JA, Fillmore MT, Glaser PEA, Rush CR. Reinforcing effects of modafinil: influence of dose and behavioral demands following drug administration. Psychopharmacology. 2005; 182: 186-193.
53. Raghav S, Singh H, Dalal P, Srivastava J, Asthana O. Randomized controlled trial of standardized Bacopa monniera extract in age-associated memory impairment. Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 2006; 48: 238.
54. Barbhaiya HC, Desai RP, Saxena VS, Pravina K, Wasim P, Geetharani P, Allan JJ, Venkateshwarlu K, Amit A. Efficacy and tolerability of BacoMind® on memory improvement in elderly participants - a double blind placebo controlled study. Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2008; 3: 425-434.