A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial of a combined extract of sage, rosemary and melissa, traditional herbal medicines, on the enhancement of memory in normal healthy subjects, including influence of age.

Phytomedicine. 2018 Jan 15;39:42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.015. Epub 2017 Aug 18. Perry NSL1, Menzies R2, Hodgson F2, Wedgewood P2, Howes MR3, Brooker HJ4, Wesnes KA4, Perry EK5. Author information 1 Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland, UK. Electronic address: nic@dilstonphysicgarden.com. 2 The Body Works Centre, 4 Eastgate, Hexham, UK. 3 Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK. 4 Wesnes Cognition Limited, Little Paddock, Streatley Hill, Streatley On Thames, UK. 5 Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland, UK. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate for the first time the effects of a combination of sage, rosemary and melissa (Salvia officinalis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Melissa officinalis L.; SRM), traditional European medicines, on verbal recall in normal healthy subjects. To devise a suitable study design for assessing the clinical efficacy of traditional herbal medicines for memory and brain function. METHODS: Forty-four normal healthy subjects (mean age 61 ± 9.26y SD; m/f 6/38) participated in this study. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study was performed with subjects randomised into an active and placebo group. The study consisted of a single 2-week term ethanol extract of SRM that was chemically-characterised using high resolution LC-UV-MS/MS analysis. Immediate and delayed word recall were used to assess memory after taking SRM or placebo (ethanol extract of Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop.). In addition analysis was performed with subjects divided into younger and older subgroups (≤ 62 years mean age n = 26: SRM n = 10, Placebo n = 16; ≥ 63 years n = 19: SRM n = 13, Placebo n = 6). RESULTS: Overall there were no significant differences between treatment and placebo change from baseline for immediate or delayed word recall. However subgroup analysis showed significant improvements to delayed word recall in the under 63 year age group (p < 0.0123) with Cohen's effect size d = 0.92. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study indicates that an oral preparation of SRM at the selected dose and for the period of administration is more effective than a placebo in supported verbal episodic memory in healthy subjects under 63 years of age. Short- and long- term supplementation with SRM extract merits more robust investigation as an adjunctive treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease and in the general ageing population. The study design proved a simple cost effective trial protocol to test the efficacy of herbal medicines on verbal episodic memory, with future studies including broader cognitive assessment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Cognition; Dementia; Melissa officinalis; Rosmarinus officinalis; Salvia officinalis; Traditional herbal medicine; Word recall PMID: 29433682 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.015