A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on Anti-Stress Effects of Nelumbinis Semen

Minsook Ye, Hyunsu Bae, Songyi Park, Jaehwan Lew, Kyung Soo Kim and Insop Shim
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Minsook Ye: Department of Biomedicine& Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Hyunsu Bae: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
Songyi Park: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Korea
Jaehwan Lew: Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Korea
Kyung Soo Kim: Department of Biomedicine& Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
Insop Shim: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: Introduction: Depression is a serious and common mental disease that causes low mood and loss of interest in activities. Nelumbinis semen (NS) has been widely used as a treatment for depression for hundreds of years in many Asian countries. Water extract of nelumbinis semen (WNS) is a standardized herbal medicine made from NS. Methods: The objective of the present research was to perform a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to estimate the efficacy of WNS for improving depressive and stress symptoms using Beck depression inventory (BDI) and the stress response inventory (SRI) in 45 adults diagnosed with major depression or other forms of depressive disorders. They were randomized to either a placebo-treated group, a 2.4 g per day WNS-treated group, or a 4.8 g per day WNS-treated group. BDI and SRI were determined in order to evaluate changes in depression before and after two weeks of WNS treatment. Results: The average BDI and SRI of the 2.4 g WNS-treated group were significantly ( p < 0.05) improved compared to those of the placebo-treated group. Their BDI subscale A (negative attitudes towards self) and subscale C (somatic disturbances), SRI E, and depression subscale of SRI were substantially shorter ( p < 0.05). In addition, an analysis of collected EEG data of participants showed a significant increase in alpha/beta activity in the 4.8 g WNS-treated group, which might be explained as an advancement of their depression symptoms ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that WNS treatment can decrease depression. Our study provides preliminary evidence for the safety of WNS and its potential to decrease depression.

Keywords: nelumbinis semen (NS); depressive disorder; Beck depression inventory (BDI); electroencephalography (EEG); stress response inventory (SRI) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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