Guarana and Gurana Extract:Phytochemicals,Botanical Info and History.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical info of Guarana.
- .Phytochemicals and constituents of Guarana.
- .Guarana Plantation and Habitat.
- .Facts,Properties,Available forms:Guarana.
- .Uses Guarana.
- .Theory and Scientific Support of Guarana.
- .History of Use with Natives:Guarana.
- .Guarana Brief Summary.
- .Research Update:Paullinia cupana or Guarana.
Theory and Scientific Support of Guarana.
The theory behind how guarana works is relatively straightforward. The major active constituent is caffeine (sometimes called guaranine to make you think it is different in some way) and similar alkaloids such as theobromine and theophylline (which are also found in coffee and tea). Each of these compounds has well-known effects as nervous system stimulants. As such, they may also have some effect on increasing metabolic rate, suppressing appetite and enhancing both physical and mental performance.
Scientific Support:
The seeds of guarana are known to be rich in xanthines (caffeine) and have been widely used as a tonic in many South American countries particularly Brazil. In studies which have determined the total xanthine content of guarana powder, caffeine content typically averages 30-50% caffeine (depending on the extract). Related compounds such as theobromine and theophylline are found at levels of 1-3% and, like caffeine, can be detected in the urine for up to 9 days following guarana intake. Most of the scientific evidence on caffeine as a general stimulant and an aid to exercise performance shows convincingly that caffeine is effective. Consuming 3 to 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of body weight (about 350mg for an average sized man or 250mg for a woman) approximately 1 hour before exercise improves endurance performance without raising urinary caffeine levels above the International Olympic Committee (IOC) doping threshold. To reach that level, you'd need to take in about 800 mg of caffeine, which is about the amount found in 8 cups of coffee or 18 cans of Coke. As a weight loss aid, however, although caffeine may suppress appetite somewhat at high levels, on its own it does not seem to be a very effective supplement for increasing calorie expenditure (thermogenesis). When combined with other stimulant-type supplements however, it appears that caffeine can extend the duration of action in suppressing appetite and increasing caloric expenditure.
Safety The toxicity of guarana has been assessed in cellular and animal studies. In most cases, there is no significant danger, aside from the side effects of high caffeine intake, associated with guarana consumption. At least one study, however, found water extracts of guarana to cause genetic damage in cell cultures,although it is unclear whether this suggests any health risk for humans consuming guarana extract as a dietary supplement. As with any caffeine-containing food, guarana extracts can lead to insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, headaches, high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Guarana is not recommended for women who are pregnant or lactating.
Value Caffeine is certainly an effective stimulant that can help increase the general state of arousal and enhance mental and physical performance. It is also widely available in common foods (coffee, tea, cola) and is relatively inexpensive. For an athlete or exerciser who needs a little "boost" before athletic competition or exercise, a moderate amount of caffeine may be helpful. For individuals attempting to lose weight, however, guarana and caffeine do not appear to be especially effective as stand-alone weight loss aids, but in combination with other thermogenic and nervous system stimulants, the caffeine may extend the activity and potency of certain supplement ingredients.
Guarana Experiment:
Guarana is one of the best known and early documented medicinal plants from the Brazilian rain forest. The proper name is Paullinia cupana, or as the Maues-Sateres natives called it "secret eyes". The plant gets its name from its appearance in the rainforest: the fruit from the shrub hangs in great red bunches, much like red grapes. The red pods split to reveal a brown chestnut colored seed with a round white middle. As you walk in the forest it is like a million eyes starring at you.
Energy, Well Being, Weight Loss:
Advocating a healthy life style of diet, the typical doses were two 500 mg capsules three times per day for one week then reduced to twice a day for three months. scientists highlighted several case studies indicating that his patients found the addition of guarana to increase their energy level and often resulted in weight loss. Several patients were caffeine abusers and were often irritable, aggressive and had difficulty sleeping and concentrating. By reducing caffeine intake and prescribing guarana, symptoms of agitation and insomnia disappeared in weeks.
Several additional studies illustrate the potential of this plant. Two studies were carried out by Dr. Netterstrom a researcher at the State Hospital of Copenhagen. Netterstrom chose guarana due to its reputation for promoting energy and counteracting stress. Netterstrom connducted a double blind study covering an eight week period and established that guarana did have a positive effect on subjects "feelings" of being more energetic. The test also showed a slight but measureable weight loss in some and a drop of fibrinogen content of the blood. (Raised fibrinogen levels are associated with stress and considered to be a specific factor for heart disease. The links between heart disease and stress are well documented.) A year later Netterstrom repeated the study and extended the duration to three months. Again, 6 out of 8 subjects reported a higher energy level, for 5/8 there were decreases in fibrinogen levels and 4/8 showed an increase in HDL (good cholesterol). No long term negative effects were observed. While this experiment does not prove that guarana reduces stress or generates energy, the participants in both studies perceived an energy boost and the findings of a significant drop in fibrinogen levels (which are known to rise under periods of stress) do support the claims made for the plant by the rainforest Indians.
In an elegant small study, Reading Scientific Services Limited examined the effects of guarana on mood and performance. The RSSL has developed a series of computerized tasks which allow measurement of the speed and accuracy of subjects performance on a series of tasks. Before the programme the subject"s undertake the computerized tests yielding base-line performance information. This test was of particular importance as it compared the effects of two levels of caffeine to guarana and a placebo. The participants were given the high dose caffeine, the low dose caffeine, the guarana, or the placebo capsule on each of four test days. The study was conducted blind (the participants were not told the identity of the samples given. Before they were given the capsules, base line measurements were taken each day. Each participant was given two capsules and monitored over 4 hours.
The results were as follows:
Doses of guarana resulted in the fastest reaction times
Doses of guarana improved the speed of hand eye coordination
Doses of guarana slightly improved accuracy of hand eye coordination
High doses of caffeine had an adverse impact on speed and accuracy of hand-eye coordination
Guarana had a positive effect on the alertness of the participant, significantly higher than the high caffeine dose.
Guarana had a positive effect on the feeling of friendliness vs antagonistic, sociable and outgoing in comparison to the other three capsules.
RSSL conclusions were that guarana had a strong and consistently positive effect on reported mood and some positive effects on performance. Caffeine at low dose had some positive effects, but at high dose had some negative effects on both mood and performance.
In the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, (1997) Espinola et al published a study which showed increased physical activity in rats, increased physical endurance under stress and increased memory with single doses and multiple doses of guarana extract. The researchers also found that whole guarana seed extract performed better and more effectively than did a comparable dose of ginseng extract or caffeine.
Weight Loss:
Guarana contains a substance similar to caffeine called guaranine. Guaranine stimulates the central nervous system, increases metabolism, and has a mild diuretic effect. It has been suggested that in combination with ephedra or ephedrine, guarana (guaranine) may be effective in helping to promote weight loss. This effect is probably due to an appetite suppressing mechanism, an increase in calorie burning, or both.
In a June 2001 issue f Journal of Human Nutrition Diet, guarana extract induced weight loss over 45 days in over weight patients taking a mixed herbal preparation containing yerba mate, guarana, and damiana. Body weight reductions were 11.22 pounds in the guarana group compared to less than one pound in the placebo group after 45 days. There are several patents comprising weight loss formulas containing guarana and/or guarana extracts (US Patent #5,945.107).
Heart Health: There is also a recent patent by Ravi M.T. Subbiah of University of Cincinnati (US patent # 4,861,594) which found that guarana was again good for "blood health" as it reduced the aggregation of platelets that can lead to blood clot formation and therefore heart attacks and strokes. In 1991 at the American College of Cardiology meeting, a paper was presented suggesting that taking an aspirin a day produced a 25% reduction in heart attacks, strokes and death in patients that were already suffering from slightly high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels or with a family history of blood clotting disorders or heart disease. Guarana maybe just as effective and lack the side effects (stomach upset, etc. ) of aspirin. Prevention is better than cure!
Reduce shadows: Brazilian Guarana Extract contains a high level of caffeine, which immediately helps eliminate dark circles under eyes.
Mental alertness:
Guarana Extract increases mental alertness and combats fatigue and is a very high source of energy. Guarana is a source of naturally occurring caffeine. Although it contains a higher percentage of caffeine than coffee, it has other beneficial components that tent to cause its stimulating effects to be more gentle that coffee and other sources of caffeine.
The Sunday Times (12 April 1987) reported that Brazilians are so convinced of the power (energy boost) of guarana that an estimated 2 million cups of guarana tea a day are consumed.
There is some confusion over the chemistry of the compounds which produce this energy, positive feeling. Guarana does contain some caffeine and depending on the source and manufacturing can contain theobromine and theophylline. Guarana is similar to chocolate in that respect. However, the caffeine content alone cannot explain the health benefits associated with guarana. For example, a typical cup of tea has 2X the amount of caffeine and a typical cup of cappacio has 5X the amount of caffeine as a typical 1 gram dose of guarana (1993 International Journal of Pharmacognosy, Houghton, PJ, Bempong and Steadman). Van Straten belives that it is the combination of the caffeine, theobromine, theophylline nicotinic acid and other compounds that make this seed effective.
Reference:
1.Guarana and Gurana Extract:Phytochemicals,Botanical Info and History.
Statistics
Spectrum
FAQ
Of Herbs