Cognitive Effects of Mint Essential Oil

Northumbria University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cognitive Change; Affect

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Mentha piperita; Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03475836

SUB052_Forster_040216

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the cognitive and mood effects of mint essential oils in a group of healthy, human adults. The investigational product will also be tested in vitro to ensure a number of biological mechanisms.

Full description

The volatile components of essential oils (e.g. sage, lemon balm and rosemary)are found to exert a number of psychotropic effects and the monoterpenes in particular seem to be responsible for the cognitive and mood effects attributed to them.

The current study aims to investigate the cognitive and mood effects of mint essential oil in humans and to ensure the efficacy of the investigational product by conducting in vitro analysis on central nervous system receptor binding properties.

This will be achieved by analysing gamma-Aminobutyric acid A (GABAA), neuronal nicotinic and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) glutamate receptor binding efficacy, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis will quantify % Limonene, % Carvone, % Menthone and % Menthol levels in the investigational treatment.

Cognitive and mood assessment will be via a randomised, placebo controlled, crossover design in 24, healthy adults aged between 18-35 yrs which will involve x1 training and x3 testing visits to the lab (placebo, 50 (micro Litre) μL and 100 μL Mentha piperita essential oil).

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18-35 yrs
• Free from illicit drugs, alcohol, prescription medication (apart from contraception in the case of women) and herbal extracts/food supplements at each assessment.

Exclusion criteria

• Head injury, neurological disorder or neuro-developmental disorder
• English not 1st language (or not equivalent to a native English speaker)
• Relevant food allergies/intolerances or digestive problems
• Smokes tobacco
• Drinks excessive amounts of caffeine (more than 600mg day as assessed by a caffeine consumption questionnaire)
• Takes illicit social drugs
• Pregnant, seeking to become so, or breast feeding

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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24 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Vegetable oil

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

High-dose mint essential oil

Active Comparator group

Description:

100 μL Mentha piperita essential oil (in vegetable oil)

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Mentha piperita

Low-dose mint essential oil

Active Comparator group

Description:

50 μL Mentha piperita essential oil (in vegetable oil)

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Mentha piperita