Background: L-theanine (L-THE), a natural amino acid found in green tea, has been shown to improve anxiety and sleep. Neumentix proprietary spearmint extract (PSE), which is commonly found in beverage flavoring a pharmaceutical, also has a wide range of health benefits, including cognitive performance improvement. Methods: Four experiments tested the effects of L-THE and PSE on sleep: a direct sleeping test, pentobarbital-induced sleeping test, sub-hypnotic pentobarbital-induced sleeping test, and sodium barbitalinduced sleeping test. Presence of neurotransmitters in brain tissue was detected by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (HP LC-MS) during these studies. Results: Pentobarbital-induced sleeping and sodium barbital-induced sleeping tests examined the potential effect of L-THE/PSE mixture on synergistic sleep, while neurotransmitter levels in the brain were determined by the high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (HPLC/MS) method. L-THE and L-THE/PSE mixture showed increased sleep duration and shortened sleep latency when coadministrated with pentobarbital or sodium barbital. The mixture also increased sleeping rate when coadministrated with the pentobarbital at sub-hypnotic dose. Additionally, the L-THE, PSE and L-THE/PSE mixture significantly increased the concentrations of acetylcholine (Ach), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and decreased the concentration of serotonin (5-HT) in the brain. Conclusions: These data demonstrated that L-THE/PSE mixture regulates sleep disorders via the GABA receptor and neurotransmitter systems.

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While both probiotics and prebiotics have an important role in controlling obesity, the effectiveness of probiotic bacteria is strain dependent. Herein, we have examined the role of Lactobacillus paracasei strain K56 and prebiotic α-galactooligosaccharides in modulating metabolic consequences of obesity. To this end, we have employed high fat diet induced obesity in a mouse model. The results show that mice fed a high fat diet exhibited increased body weight, adiposity, and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. Treatment with L. paracasei K56 and/or α-galactooligosaccharides significantly decreased body and fat weights, particularly when α-galactooligosaccharide was combined with a high level of L. paracasei K56. In conclusion, the treatments with L. paracasei K56 and/or α-galactooligosaccharides significantly modulated against obesity and improved lipid metabolism.

Coix seed extract (CSE) and probiotics have been reported to regulate glycolipid metabolism via different modes of action. We tested the effects of CSE, Bifidobacterium BPL1, and their combination to determine their effects on glycolipid metabolism in obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to establish an obesity model. Obese mice were selected and divided into four groups: the model control group and three intervention groups. After 10 weeks of continuous gavage intervention, the mice in the intervention groups exhibited lower body weight (lower about 2.31 g, vs. HFD mice 42.23 g) and epididymal (lower about 0.37 g, vs. HFD mice 2.5 g) and perirenal fat content (lower about 0.47 g, vs. HFD mice 0.884 g); decreased fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and VLDL; and increased HLDL, respiratory exchange ratio, energy expenditure, and amount of exercise performed. CSE, BPL1 and their combination can effectively control the weight gain in obese mice, reduce fat content, and regulate blood lipids and abnormal blood sugar. These results may be related to reduce the chronic inflammatory states, improve energy metabolism, exercise, relieve insulin sensitivity, and reduce lipid synthesis via the intervention of CSE, BPL1 and their combination. Compared with the single use of CSE alone, the combination of CSE + BPL1 can better exert the regulation function of intestinal flora, and change in the abundance of bacteria that could improve the level of inflammatory factors, such as increasing Bifidobacterium, reducing Lactococcus. Compared with the use of BPL1 alone, the combination of CSE and BPL1 can better regulate pancreatic islet and improve blood sugar. CSE may act directly on body tissues to exert anti-inflammatory effects. BPL1 and CSE + BPL1 may improve the structure and function of the intestinal flora, and reduce tissue inflammation.