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Monoamine reuptake inhibition and mood-enhancing potential of a specified oregano extract

Mechan, Annis O. ; Fowler, Ann ; Seifert, Nicole ; Rieger, Henry ; Wöhrle, Tina ; Etheve, Stéphane ; Wyss, Adrian ; Schüler, Göde ; Colletto, Biagio ; Kilpert, Claus ; Aston, James ; Elliott, J. Martin ; Goralczyk, Regina ; Mohajeri, M. Hasan

In: British Journal of Nutrition, 2011, vol. 105, no. 8, p. 1150-1163

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    Title
    • Monoamine reuptake inhibition and mood-enhancing potential of a specified oregano extract
    Author
    • Mechan, Annis O.. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Fowler, Ann. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Seifert, Nicole. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Rieger, Henry. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Wöhrle, Tina. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Etheve, Stéphane. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Wyss, Adrian. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Schüler, Göde. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Colletto, Biagio. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Kilpert, Claus. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Aston, James. Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
    • Elliott, J. Martin. Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
    • Goralczyk, Regina. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    • Mohajeri, M. Hasan. DSM Nutritional Products Limited, Research and Development Human Nutrition and Health, PO Box 2676, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • British Journal of Nutrition, 2011, vol. 105, no. 8, p. 1150-1163. Cambridge University Press
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:289715
    Summary
    A healthy, balanced diet is essential for both physical and mental well-being. Such a diet must include an adequate intake of micronutrients, essential fatty acids, amino acids and antioxidants. The monoamine neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, are derived from dietary amino acids and are involved in the modulation of mood, anxiety, cognition, sleep regulation and appetite. The capacity of nutritional interventions to elevate brain monoamine concentrations and, as a consequence, with the potential for mood enhancement, has not been extensively evaluated. The present study investigated an extract from oregano leaves, with a specified range of active constituents, identified via an unbiased, high-throughput screening programme. The oregano extract was demonstrated to inhibit the reuptake and degradation of the monoamine neurotransmitters in a dose-dependent manner, and microdialysis experiments in rats revealed an elevation of extracellular serotonin levels in the brain. Furthermore, following administration of oregano extract, behavioural responses were observed in mice that parallel the beneficial effects exhibited by monoamine-enhancing compounds when used in human subjects. In conclusion, these data show that an extract prepared from leaves of oregano, a major constituent of the Mediterranean diet, is brain-active, with moderate triple reuptake inhibitory activity, and exhibits positive behavioural effects in animal models. We postulate that such an extract may be effective in enhancing mental well-being in humans