A Novel Dietary Supplement Containing Multiple Phytochemicals and Vitamins Elevates Hepatorenal and Cardiac Antioxidant Enzymes in the Absence of Significant Serum Chemistry and Genomic Changes

Abstract

A novel dietary supplement composed of three well-known phytochemicals, namely, Salvia officinalis (sage) extract, Camellia sinensis (oolong tea) extract, and Paullinia cupana (guarana) extract, and two prominent vitamins (thiamine and niacin) was designed to provide nutritional support by enhancing metabolism and maintaining healthy weight and energy. The present study evaluated the safety of this dietary supplement (STG; S, sage; T, tea; G, guarana) and assessed changes in target organ antioxidant enzymes (liver, kidneys and heart), serum chemistry profiles and organ histopathology in Fisher 344 rats. Adult male and female Fisher 344 rats were fed control (no STG) or STG containing (1X and 7X, 1X = daily human dose) diets and sacrificed after 2 and 4 months. Serum chemistry analysis and histopathological examination of three vital target organs disclosed no adverse influence on protein, lipid and carbohydrate profiles, genomic integrity of the liver and/or the tissue architecture. However, analysis of the most important antioxidant components in the liver, kidney and heart homogenates revealed a dramatic increase in total glutathione concentrations, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities. Concomitantly, oxidative stress levels (malondialdehyde accumulation) in these three organs were less than control. Organ specific serum markers (ALT/AST for the liver; CPK/AST/LDH for the heart; BUN/creatinine for kidneys) and the genomic integrity disclosed no STG-induced alteration. Some of the serum components (lipid and protein) showed insignificant changes. Overall, STG-exposed rats were more active, and the results suggest that STG exposure produces normal serum chemistry coupled with elevated antioxidant capacity in rats fed up to seven times the normal human dose and does not adversely influence any of the vital target organs. Additionally, this study reiterates the potential benefits of exposure to a pharmacologically relevant combination of phytochemicals compared to a single phytochemical entity.

<b><i>Salvia officinalis</i></b> Reduces the Severity of the Premenstrual Syndrome

“…The anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties of Salvia officinalis , including thiamin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, gallic acid, flavonoids, diterpenes and phenolic acids, as well as the phytoestrogenic contents of the plant seemed to be involved in reducing the mental symptoms of the sufferers. It is also suggested that neurochemical receptors in the CNS may play a key role in these effects [22,25,26]. …”

“…The exact etiology for a reduction of the physical symptoms of PMS is not yet well understood, but it seems that anti-prostaglandins play a critical role as mediating factor. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Salvia officinalis due to the contents of rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and caffeic acid [22,25,26] and the anti-prostaglandin effects of carnosol and carnosic acid [26] in this plant could help reduce the PMS-associated physical as well as psychological symptoms.…”

“…Diagnosis of PMS was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) [26] with 11 items described by Fritz and Speroff [2]. …”

Paullinia cupana Kunth (Sapindaceae): A review of its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology

“…Guaraná seed extract exhibits a powerful antioxidant activity, and in combination with vitamins and minerals, it improves cognitive task performance and attenuates increased mental fatigue associated with extended cognitive task performance (Bulku et al, 2010;Kennedy et al, 2008). Guaraná seed products are increasingly being used as a weight loss product in the form of powder, tablets and jams (Basile et al, 2005;Henman, 1982;Seidemann, 1998), and it is widely consumed by athletes who believe that it presents ergogenic and "fat burning" effects (Lima et al, 2005).…”

“…Kennedy et al (2008) concluded that multivitamin-mineral food supplements fortified with Guaraná can improve cognitive performance and reduce the mental fatigue with sustained mental effort. Another dietary supplement, which is composed of three well-known phytochemicals, namely, Salvia officinalis L. (sage) extract, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (oolong tea) extract, and P. cupana (Guaraná) extract, and two prominent vitamins (thiamine and niacin), was designed to provide nutritional support by enhancing metabolism and maintaining healthy weight and energy (Bulku et al, 2010). The mixed herbal preparation "YGD," which contains Yerbe Maté (leaves of Ilex paraguayensis Hook), Guaraná (seeds of P. cupana) and Damiana (leaves of Turnera diffusa Willd.…”