7 replies to this topic

[medievil]

Clitoria ternatea and the CNS
by
Jain NN, Ohal CC, Shroff SK, Bhutada RH,
Somani RS, Kasture VS, Kasture SB.
Natural Products Laboratory,
M.V.P. Samaj's College of Pharmacy,
422 002, Nashik, India
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jun;75(3):529-36

ABSTRACT

The present investigation was aimed at determining the spectrum of activity of the methanolic extract of Clitoria ternatea (CT) on the CNS. The CT was studied for its effect on cognitive behavior, anxiety, depression, stress and convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and maximum electroshock (MES). To explain these effects, the effect of CT was also studied on behavior mediated by dopamine (DA), noradrenaline, serotonin and acetylcholine. The extract decreased time required to occupy the central platform (transfer latency, TL) in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and increased discrimination index in the object recognition test, indicating nootropic activity. The extract was more active in the object recognition test than in the EPM. The extract increased occupancy in the open arm of EPM by 160% and in the lit box of the light/dark exploration test by 157%, indicating its anxiolytic activity. It decreased the duration of immobility in tail suspension test (suggesting its antidepressant activity), reduced stress-induced ulcers and reduced the convulsing action of PTZ and MES. The extract exhibited tendency to reduce the intensity of behavior mediated via serotonin and acetylcholine. The effect on DA- and noradrenaline-mediated behavior was not significant. In conclusion, the extract was found to possess nootropic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant and antistress activity. Further studies are necessary to isolate the active principle responsible for the activities and to understand its mode of action.

[msied]

Looks like the next best extract to come out of this subforum since Calamus. I'm interested in trying this out too, so bump. I guess you could always get the seeds and grow it yourself... I imagine that might be too personally fulfilling, though.

[Arc]

And two on pubmed:

Clitoria ternatea root extract enhances acetylcholine content in rat hippocampus.
Rai KS, Murthy KD, Karanth KS, Nalini K, Rao MS, Srinivasan KK.

Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Pin 576119, Karnataka, India. kiranmai_rai2001@yahoo.com

Treatment with 100 mg/kg of Clitoria ternatea aqueous root extract (CTR), for 30 days in neonatal and young adult age groups of rat, significantly increased acetylcholine (ACh) content in their hippocampi as compared to age matched controls. Increase in ACh content in their hippocampus may be the neurochemical basis for their improved learning and memory. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.

PMID: 12490229 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Clitoria ternatea (Linn) root extract treatment during growth spurt period enhances learning and memory in rats.
Rai KS, Murthy KD, Karanth KS, Rao MS.

Department of Physiology, K. M. C., Manipal-576 119.

Neonatal rat pups (7 days old) were intubated with either 50 mg/kg body weight or 100 mg/kg body weight of aqueous root extract of Clitoria ternatea (CTR) for 30 days. These rats were then subjected to open field, two compartment passive avoidance and spatial learning (T-Maze) tests (i) immediately after the treatment and (ii) 30 days after the treatment, along with age matched normal and saline control rats. Results showed no change in open field behaviour, but showed improved retention and spatial learning performance at both time points of behavioural tests, indicating the memory enhancing property of CTR which implicates a permanent change in the brain of CTR treated rats.

PMID: 11881569 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[medievil]

Looks like the next best extract to come out of this subforum since Calamus. I'm interested in trying this out too, so bump. I guess you could always get the seeds and grow it yourself... I imagine that might be too personally fulfilling, though.

Growing it would be too time consuming but that plant looks familiar, if it can be found at a flower store or something like that it would be easy to get the extract.

[mentatpsi]

Meditative Tea has it in the formulation.



Link above.

I've always wondered where the interesting effect of the tea came from.

[medievil]

I've always wondered where the interesting effect of the tea came from.

More info please

Meditative Time Tea blends helichrysum and shank pushpi to help improve cognitive function, memory and perception, while sage and lavender elevate the mood and encourage creativity.

I dont think theres anything in the tea...

Edited by medievil, 04 October 2009 - 05:00 PM.

[bobman]

Bumping an old thread, but shankha pushpi can in fact be clitoria ternatea. However, it could also be convulvus pluricaulus, both run under the same name. Several botanical species are considered to be "shankhapushpi" (much like Brahmi is often taken to mean both gotu kola and bacopa monnieri). As far as I know, shankhapushpi refers to a group of 4 herbs, although I don't remember what the other 2 are. I've found bulk shankha pushpi/convulvus, which has no neurocognitive studies. However, it is mentioned in ayurvedic literature as one of the staples of medhva rasayana, specifically used for opening up the crown chakra. It is traditionally indicated for 3 months of uninterrupted use, beyond which it is said to be harmful.

On a side note, I've smoked both convulvus and gotu kola, and convulvus has a qualitatively different effect, but of similar magnitude. It feels a bit like a medium dose of ALCAR, in that your thoughts seems to have more "grip" during inner dialogue.

[chrono]

Nice find. Will be looking into this one further. Here's one product that contains root extract: Sewanti Ayurvedic Stressnil (halfway down the page). 90x 500mg Vcaps. $37 + $15 US shipping/$30 international. Available here for $30, also shipped from Canada.

Each Capsule Contains:
83.35 mg Sarcostemma brevistigma herb (Mooncreeper) extract 4:1
83.35 mg Clitoria ternatea root (Clitoria) extract 4:1
83.35 mg Bacopa monnieri herb (Thyme leaved gratiola) extract 4:1
83.35 mg Elaeocrpus tuberculatus fruit Rosary nut) extract 4:1
83.35 mg Phyllanthus Emblica fruit (Indian Gooseberry) extract 4:1
83.35 mg Nardostachys jatamansi rhizome (Nardus root) extract 4:1

Though such a mix is definitely not the best way to evaluate its effects.