Acute Administration of Guayusa Extract and Lion’s Mane Improve Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults

by | Jan 24, 2024 | 2023, Botanicals, Brain Health, Cognitive Health

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Study findings show that those in the AMT group experienced significantly improved neuropsychological scores and improved focus and concentration (p < 0.05). Subjects in the LM group experienced significantly improved reaction time (p ≤ 0.05) and happiness scores (p < 0.05). 

Cognitive function decline is a common phenomenon that occurs with age, with deterioration of perception, processing speed, attention, memory, and executive function observed during aging1. Thus, research centered on cognitive enhancement through nutraceuticals or psychoactive substances such as caffeine has grown in popularity2.

Ilex guayusa, a holly species consumed as a stimulant beverage due to the high caffeine content, has been reported to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities due to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids and xanthines3. It contains L-theanine, theobromine, and caffeine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the regulation of calcium levels and GABA neurotransmission4. Additionally, Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion’s Mane (LM), is a well-studied mushroom with bioactive metabolites, which include the erinacines (A-I), that have demonstrated neurotropic and neuroprotective effects5. Erinacine A can stimulate the nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis and promote the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth stimulation6.

La Monica et al. conducted a double-blind, randomized, three-arm, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover trial to examine both guayusa and LM on acute cognitive performance in healthy adults. Subject inclusion consisted of adults aged 18 to 50 years who were in good health based on physical examination and medical history, with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-39.9 kg m-2, who regularly consumed ≤240 mg of caffeine daily. Participants were randomly assigned to consume two capsules of either: a placebo made of maltodextrin, 650 mg guayusa extract (AmaTea® Max (AMT) standardized at 20% caffeine (130 mg) and 30% chlorogenic acids), or 1 g 100% organic Nordic Lion’s Mane fruiting bodies (LM).

Participants partook in four laboratory visits, one for the initial screening visit and then three for testing visits. At the screening visit, fasted blood samples were obtained, baseline diet was evaluated, and subjects underwent 3 sets of familiarization trials of the neuropsychological assessments (Go/No-go, Serial Sevens, and N-Back). At each testing visit, participants completed baseline testing at 0 minutes, 60 minutes post ingestion, and 120 minutes post ingestion. Testing included subjective questionnaires (visual analog scales (VAS)) focused on evaluating mood, focus, mental clarity, concentration, productivity, and stress tolerance. Furthermore, it included a 4-item subjective happiness scale (SHS), 3 sets of neuropsychological assessments, and an assessment of vital signs for blood pressure and heart rate.

Primary study outcomes included cognitive performance based on the neuropsychological assessments. Secondary study outcomes included subjective changes in VAS and SHS scores. Turkey post hoc procedures were utilized to analyze individual comparisons between time points and/or groups. The final trial analysis included 22 women and 18 men. Significant findings of the study are as follows:

  • Post hoc analysis over time of Go/No-go results for LM show that reaction time was quicker at 120 min compared to 0 min (p = 0.036) and 60 min (p = 0.004). Post hoc analysis for AMT show that reaction time was quicker at 60 min (p = 0.015) and 120 min (p = 0.004) compared to 0 min.
  • A significant interaction (p = 0.011) and a significant main effect of time (p = 0.043) were observed for N-Back scores. Post hoc analysis for AMT indicated a higher score at 60 min (p = 0.018) and 120 min (p < 0.001) compared to 0 min. Furthermore, AMT indicated greater N-Back accuracy than LM (p = 0.017) at 120 min.
  • VAS findings show that there was a significant interaction (p = 0.013), a significant main effect of time (p = 0.001), and a significant main effect for condition (p = 0.002) for mental clarity. Post hoc analysis between conditions shows that AMT had greater mental clarity than LM at 60 min (p = 0.017) and 120 min (p = 0.003).
  • Additionally, there was a trend for an interaction (p = 0.062), a significant main effect of time (p < 0.001), and a significant main effect of condition (p = 0.008) for focus. Post hoc analysis between conditions shows that AMT had greater focus than LM at 60 min (p = 0.023) and 120 min (p = 0.008).

Results of the study show that both AMT and LM improved cognitive performance, happiness ratings, and reaction time. However, only the AMT participants reported significant improvements in cognition through improved number of correct responses, reaction time, total cognition score, mental clarity, focus, and concentration. Further research on longer duration studies using higher doses of LM are necessary to better comprehend its potential cognitive benefits.

Source: La Monica, Michael B., Betsy Raub, Ethan J. Ziegenfuss, Shelley Hartshorn, Jodi Grdic, Ashley Gustat, Jennifer Sandrock, and Tim N. Ziegenfuss. “Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion’s Mane Extracts on Cognitive Performance.” Nutrients 15, no. 24 (2023): 5018.

© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Posted January 24, 2024.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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