A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial of a combined extract of sage, rosemary and melissa, traditional herbal medicines, on the enhancement of memory in normal healthy subjects, including influence of age

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial of a combined extract of sage, rosemary and melissa, traditional herbal medicines, on the enhancement of memory in normal healthy subjects, including influence of age

To evaluate for the first time the effects of a combination of sage, rosemary and melissa (Salvia officinalis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Melissa officinalis L.; SRM), traditional European medicines, on verbal recall in normal healthy subjects. To devise a suitable study design for assessing t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytomedicine (Stuttgart) Vol. 39; pp. 42 - 48
Main Authors: Perry, N.S.L., Menzies, R., Hodgson, F., Wedgewood, P., Howes, M.-J.R., Brooker, H.J., Wesnes, K.A., Perry, E.K.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 15-01-2018
Subjects:
Aged
Cognition
Dementia
Double-Blind Method
Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Herbal Medicine - methods
Humans
Male
Melissa - chemistry
Melissa officinalis
Memory - drug effects
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Plant Extracts - chemistry
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Plants, Medicinal - chemistry
Rosmarinus - chemistry
Rosmarinus officinalis
Salvia officinalis
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Traditional herbal medicine
Treatment Outcome
Word recall
Salvia officinalis
Rosmarinus officinalis
LC-UV-MS/MS
Melissa officinalis
Cognition
Word recall
Traditional herbal medicine
RSM
Dementia
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Summary:To evaluate for the first time the effects of a combination of sage, rosemary and melissa (Salvia officinalis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Melissa officinalis L.; SRM), traditional European medicines, on verbal recall in normal healthy subjects. To devise a suitable study design for assessing the clinical efficacy of traditional herbal medicines for memory and brain function. Forty-four normal healthy subjects (mean age 61 ± 9.26y SD; m/f 6/38) participated in this study. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study was performed with subjects randomised into an active and placebo group. The study consisted of a single 2-week term ethanol extract of SRM that was chemically-characterised using high resolution LC-UV-MS/MS analysis. Immediate and delayed word recall were used to assess memory after taking SRM or placebo (ethanol extract of Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop.). In addition analysis was performed with subjects divided into younger and older subgroups (≤ 62 years mean age n = 26: SRM n = 10, Placebo n = 16; ≥ 63 years n = 19: SRM n = 13, Placebo n = 6). Overall there were no significant differences between treatment and placebo change from baseline for immediate or delayed word recall. However subgroup analysis showed significant improvements to delayed word recall in the under 63 year age group (p < 0.0123) with Cohen's effect size d = 0.92. No adverse effects were observed. This pilot study indicates that an oral preparation of SRM at the selected dose and for the period of administration is more effective than a placebo in supported verbal episodic memory in healthy subjects under 63 years of age. Short- and long- term supplementation with SRM extract merits more robust investigation as an adjunctive treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease and in the general ageing population. The study design proved a simple cost effective trial protocol to test the efficacy of herbal medicines on verbal episodic memory, with future studies including broader cognitive assessment. [Display omitted]
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ISSN:0944-7113
1618-095X
DOI:10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.015