Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Participants receiving the herbal combination showed improvements in working memory and attention with lower brain activation.
Herbal extracts possess active components that may influence multiple systems in the body affecting behavioral responses and patterns. Among them plant extracts such as bacopa, ginseng and whole coffee fruit extract have shown, individually, neurocognitive benefits 1,2. Studies on the phytochemicals found in standardized extracts show that active polyphenolic compounds found in ginseng, bacopa, and whole coffee fruit extract are attributed to increasing cerebral blood flow, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, enhancing cognitive performance, improving working memory, and increasing brain derived neurotrophic factors 2-4. Although individually these herbs demonstrate cognitive and neurological benefits, little is known about the synergistic effects of ginseng, bacopa, and whole coffee fruit extract combined. In the current study, researchers tested the effect of American ginseng, whole coffee fruit extract, and bacopa on cognitive performance (working memory and attention) in healthy adults 5.
In this double blind, randomized controlled study, 40 healthy adults (21 female, 19 male) between the ages of 18 and 60 years old were eligible to participate. The study was conducted on a single day for a period of two hours. Before testing, participants were instructed to fast and abstain from any stimulant containing foods. Dietary measures were conducted to assess intake of specific foods known to influence cognition and well-being. Researchers also assessed depressive state (DASS- 21), affective state (PANAS), and psychological well-being (SVS). Cognitive tests were selected to assess working memory (N- back tasks), and selective attention and inhibition (Stroop, one and two choice reaction time tasks, and Go/ No-go). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure cerebral hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tests. Participants were supplemented with 300mg bacopa (34mg of bacosides), 100mg American ginseng (9mg of ginsenosides), and 100mg of whole coffee fruit extract (40mg how chlorogenic acid). The placebo group were supplemented with a similar tablet predominately containing microcrystalline cellulose. At baseline, researchers conducted mood assessment (using DASS-21, SVS, & PANAS), blood glucose test, and cognitive tests (Stroop, Go/No-go, N-back tasks, and reaction time tasks). A practice module was done pre-supplementation to ensure participants understood how to take each cognitive test. Post supplementation, researchers repeated cognitive, mood, and blood glucose measurements. Prefrontal cortex activity was tested via functional near-infrared spectroscopy and conducted during the cognitive tests.
Results from the study showed that participants receiving the herbal combination had improved measures in working memory and attention. Participants in the treatment group had improved response time on the 2-back task (P < 0.05) and improved 3-back accuracy performance (P < 0.01) compared to placebo. An inverse efficiency score (IES) was calculated to understand speed and accuracy tradeoff in completing the tasks related to the Stroop and Go/ No-go tasks. Lower IES indicates better performance. After the trial, IES for the Stroop response time showed significant improvement in those receiving the herbal supplement (P <0.05). No significant effects were found for the Go/ No-go cognitive test. Researchers also found that during cognitive tests less activation of the prefrontal cortex was observed in the treatment group compared to the placebo for both right and left hemispheres (P<0.01); this was significant especially during the Stroop accuracy cognitive test (P <0.05).
Overall, the study demonstrated that the combination of whole coffee fruit extract, American ginseng, and bacopa improved working memory and attention with less activation of the prefrontal cortex thus reflecting increased brain efficiency. Further studies would be needed to verify these findings and determine any sustained long-term gains on brain activity and performance by using this herbal combination.
Source: Best, Talitha, Chantelle Clarke, Nathan Nuzum, and Wei-Peng Teo. “Acute effects of combined Bacopa, American ginseng and whole coffee fruit on working memory and cerebral haemodynamic response of the prefrontal cortex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Nutritional neuroscience (2019): 1-12. DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2019.1690288
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Posted May 26, 2021.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
References:
- Reay JL, van Schaik P, Wilson CJ. A systematic review of research investigating the physiological and psychological effects of combining Ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng into a single treatment in humans: Implications for research design and analysis. Brain and behavior. 2019;9(3):e01217.
- Reyes-Izquierdo T, Argumedo R, Shu C, Nemzer B, Pietrzkowski Z. Stimulatory effect of whole coffee fruit concentrate powder on plasma levels of total and exosomal brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects: An acute within-subject clinical study. 2013.
- Benson S, Downey LA, Stough C, Wetherell M, Zangara A, Scholey A. An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood. Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):551-559.
- Scholey A, Ossoukhova A, Owen L, et al. Effects of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) on neurocognitive function: an acute, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2010;212(3):345-356.
- Best T, Clarke C, Nuzum N, Teo WP. Acute effects of combined Bacopa, American ginseng and whole coffee fruit on working memory and cerebral haemodynamic response of the prefrontal cortex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutr Neurosci. 2019:1-12.
