Forskere har for første gang demonstrert effekter av Matcha tepulver og ekstrakt for å redusere angst i en dyremodell. Matcha er et trygt, naturlig alternativ for å lindre angst og heve humøret.
Stemning og angst disorders are becoming commonplace in our fast-paced and often stressful lives. Angst disorders and fear has been linked to disturbance in dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in our brain. Angst symptoms also increases risk of other medical disorders and affects overall wellbeing of a person. Anxiolytic (or antianxiety) agents like benzodiazepines and serotonin inhibitors are generally used for treatment as they reduce or inhibit angst. However, they have many side effects, sometimes even adverse, and they also increase dependency. Safer, natural alternative need to be developed for angst ledelse.
I Japan har 'Matcha' blitt brukt i lang tid til forskjellige medisinske formål. Matcha er en finjordet kraft av nye blader fra treplante kalt Camellia sinensis som får vokse kun i skygge. Matcha-pulver brukes til å lage Matcha te by adding it directly to hot water. It is also used for adding flavour to food. Matcha te is different from regular green tea in its content mainly because of differences cultivation and processing. Camellia sinensis Planten er rik på L-theanin, epigallocatechin gallat (EGCG), koffein, vitaminer og aminosyrer, og derfor gir Matcha flere fordeler knyttet til disse bioaktive stoffene. Det er ofte brukt i Japan for helbredelse, avslapning og til og med behandling av hudsykdommer. Imidlertid er svært begrensede vitenskapelige bevis tilgjengelig for å støtte påstandene ovenfor. Effekten av Matcha-pulver på atferdsaspekter har heller ikke blitt utforsket til nå.
En studie publisert i Journal of Functional Foods has investigated and demonstrated the effects of Matcha te powder, hot water extract and ethanol extract for anti-angst activity in an animal model (here, mice). Researchers conducted an elevated plus maze (EPM) test in healthy animals. EPM involves use of an elevated plus-shaped platform which has two open arms and two closed arms with walls around it. It is a commonly used anxiety test in which animal subjects which are anxious try to stay on the safe area of the plus where they cannot fall off.
The animals were orally administered Matcha powder and extract or fractions dissolved in water. Results showed that the animals who had consumed Matcha had reduced angst. The strongest effect was seen in Matcha extract derived using 80% ethanol when compared to extract derived from hot water. This meant that poor water-solubility of Matcha has better anti-angst effect than when it was easily water soluble. The ethanol extract was fractioned further into hexane soluble, ethyl acetate soluble and water-soluble fractions which exhibited similar results. Behavioural analysis showed that Matcha power and extract reduce angst by activating dopamine D1 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors which are closely linked to anxious behaviour.
The current study conducted on mice demonstrates that Matcha te powder and extract have a positive calming effect and reduce anxiety by activating dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in the brain. Matcha is a safe and natural alternative for alleviating anxiety.
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{Du kan lese den originale forskningsoppgaven ved å klikke på DOI-lenken nedenfor i listen over siterte kilder}
Source (s)
Kurauchi, Y. et al. 2019. Anxiolytic activities of Matcha te powder, extracts, and fractions in mice: Contribution of dopamine D1 receptor- and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor-mediated mechanisms. Journal of Functional Foods. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.05.046
