MatchaDB

2025Journal articleFree to read

Natural Products in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

Bayo Jimenez MT, Rivas-García L, Sánchez-González C, Grosso G, Lipari V, Vera-Ramírez L, Battino M, Giampieri F, Quiles JL, Forbes-Hernández TY

International journal of molecular sciences

Read at the publisher →Free full text →PubMedPubMed Central

Abstract

This systematic review included 31 clinical trial articles examining the effects of natural compounds on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), involving 3582 participants aged 50-90. Treatment durations ranged from 8 weeks to 2 years, with an average of 12.5 months. Notably, 11 studies focused on herbal extracts highlighting their prominence in current research. These extracts showed potential cognitive and neuroprotective benefits, although results varied across compounds and study designs. Other natural compounds-including flavonoids, polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, Aloe vera, Spirulina, and citrus phytochemicals-may provide cognitive and neuroprotective benefits, with ginseng and Ginkgo biloba combinations also showing promise. Curcumin and Melissa officinalis had limited effects, resveratrol showed mixed outcomes with some side effects, and matcha green tea may improve cognition and sleep quality. Despite generally favorable results, the studies varied considerably in design and quality; nonetheless, herbal extracts represent a prominent category of natural interventions in AD and MCI, underscoring the need for further large-scale, high-quality clinical trials to confirm their therapeutic potential.

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Study type

Systematic review / meta-analysis

A structured search and combined analysis of earlier studies.

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Topics

Matcha is mentioned in passing here (named in the abstract).

Keywords and subject terms

Cite this study

Bayo Jimenez MT, Rivas-García L, Sánchez-González C, Grosso G, Lipari V, Vera-Ramírez L, … Forbes-Hernández TY. (2025). Natural Products in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. International journal of molecular sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110631

DOI: 10.3390/ijms262110631 · PubMed ID: 41226670 · Cited by 15 (OpenAlex)

More on cognition, mood and stress

2020Journal articleFree to read

Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review.

Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Antoniewicz J, et al. — Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Japanese matcha is a type of powdered green tea, grown in a traditional way. Shading of the plants during the growth period enhances the processes of synthesis and accumulation of biologically active compounds, including theanine,…

ReviewCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 321×
2018Journal articleFree to read

Stress-Reducing Function of Matcha Green Tea in Animal Experiments and Clinical Trials.

Unno K, Furushima D, Hamamoto S, et al. — Nutrients

Theanine, a major amino acid in green tea, exhibits a stress-reducing effect in mice and humans. Matcha, which is essentially theanine-rich powdered green tea, is abundant in caffeine. Caffeine has a strong antagonistic effect against…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 84×
2017Journal articleFree to read

An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance.

Dietz C, Dekker M, Piqueras-Fiszman B — Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Matcha tea is gaining popularity throughout the world in recent years and is frequently referred to as a mood-and-brain food. Previous research has demonstrated that three constituents present in matcha tea, l-theanine, epigallocatechin…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 66×

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