Overview of the Effect of Herbal Medicines and Isoflavones on the Treatment of Cognitive Function

Abstract

ObjectivesThe current overview aimed to present the effect of herbal medicines on cognitive function among menopausal women.MethodsTwo separate authors performed systematic search of the 3 databases of (the MEDLINE Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register Trials) from inception to January 2018. Methodological quality of each study was assessed using the AMSTAR.ResultsAccording to 2 reviews, soy seems to be effective in enhancing summary cognitive function and visual memory. The effect of isoflavones on cognition was affected by treatment duration as six weeks of treatment improved some dimensions of cognitive parameters, including mental flexibility and planning, and longer treatment period (6 months) improved category digit span test, digit symbol test, and visual scanning test score. The effect of phytoestrogen on cognitive function of menopausal women might be altered age, gender, ethnicity, menopausal status, dosage, and length of treatment, types of cognitive test, location, types of soy, and types of phytoestrogen. Combination of Gingko with ginseng could not improve sustained attention, episode memory, category generation or frontal lobe function. Gingko biloba had no significant effect on planning, memory and sustained attention, except for its limited effect on mental flexibility in late menopause. In addition, other herbal medicines like black cohosh showed no effective beneficial.ConclusionsPhytoestrogen, soy and isoflavones might have a limited beneficial effect on some aspects of cognition. The phytoestrogens affecting cognition might be modified by age, gender, ethnicity, menopausal status, dosage, and length of treatment, types of cognitive test, location, types of soy, and types of phytoestrogen.

Polyphenol Health Effects on Cardiovascular and Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Review and Meta-Analysis

“…First, a recent meta-analysis reported no significant benefit of the Mediterranean diet, whose supplying of polyphenol is about 1g/day [49], on incident cognitive impairment [73]. In addition, an overview of the effect of soy isoflavones concluded that their effects on cognition may be limited and influenced by several factors related to individual features, type of treatment, and the plant itself [74]. Similarly, a meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials indicated that the treatment of MCI patients with Ginkgo biloba extract brought inconsistent results on the cognitive endpoint [75].…”

A Nutraceutical Approach to Menopausal Complaints

“…The association with probiotic was also studied for symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, but results were not satisfactory [69]. Isoflavones exert a limited beneficial effect on cognition, as increased choline acetyltransferase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus and frontal cortex [70]. However, this effect may be modified by age, gender, ethnicity, menopausal status, and length of treatment [70].…”

“…Isoflavones exert a limited beneficial effect on cognition, as increased choline acetyltransferase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus and frontal cortex [70]. However, this effect may be modified by age, gender, ethnicity, menopausal status, and length of treatment [70]. The effects on bone metabolism are interesting due to a significant decrease in bone resorption process, especially if associated with HRT [26].…”

Influence of a new botanical combination on quality of life in menopausal Spanish women: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study

“…The product's ability to reduce vasomotor symptoms may be predominantly associated with soy isoflavones and their ability to act as lower affinity lower, potency phytoestrogens, operating primarily as a selective modulator of the β-estrogen receptor [45]. In fact, despite the disparity among the authors regarding the effects of phytoestrogens on menopausal symptoms, several clinical trials have reported that soy isoflavones mitigate vasomotor symptoms [46], though with limited or no effects on cognition and other menopause-related symptoms [47]. Currently, isoflavones represent one of the most popular and safest alternative therapies to support menopausal complaints, although some contradictory results have been published in clinical studies [29,48].…”