TY - JOUR
T1 - Consumption of fresh Centella asiatica improves short term alertness and contentedness in healthy females
AU - Lawal, Oluranti Mopelola
AU - Wakel, Fatima
AU - Dekker, Matthijs
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Centella asiatica is rich in pentacyclic triterpenes that have been associated with several beneficial health effects. Several earlier studies investigated the effects of long term intake of C. asiatica on several cognitive functions and mood, either in the form of dried herb, powder, supplements or extract, but not as a fresh herb in a human intervention study. In this research, for the first time, the short-term effect of consuming a single smoothie, containing two concentrations of the fresh herb, on the cognition and mood of healthy female participants was investigated. Madecassic acid was the major triterpene in the fresh leaves of C. asiatica. Cognitive performance and mood dimensions were assessed before and one hour after consuming a single serving of smoothies. Alertness and contentedness factors significantly improved with higher concentration of C. asiatica. No significant improvements in cognitive functions after one hour of consumption were found.
AB - Centella asiatica is rich in pentacyclic triterpenes that have been associated with several beneficial health effects. Several earlier studies investigated the effects of long term intake of C. asiatica on several cognitive functions and mood, either in the form of dried herb, powder, supplements or extract, but not as a fresh herb in a human intervention study. In this research, for the first time, the short-term effect of consuming a single smoothie, containing two concentrations of the fresh herb, on the cognition and mood of healthy female participants was investigated. Madecassic acid was the major triterpene in the fresh leaves of C. asiatica. Cognitive performance and mood dimensions were assessed before and one hour after consuming a single serving of smoothies. Alertness and contentedness factors significantly improved with higher concentration of C. asiatica. No significant improvements in cognitive functions after one hour of consumption were found.
KW - Centella asiatica
KW - Cognition
KW - Mood
KW - Smoothie
KW - Triterpenes
U2 - 10.1016/j.jff.2020.104337
DO - 10.1016/j.jff.2020.104337
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85098739431
VL - 77
JO - Journal of Functional Foods
JF - Journal of Functional Foods
SN - 1756-4646
M1 - 104337
ER -
