Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Mahsa Panahishokouh 1
- . Maryam Noroozian 2
- . Fatemeh Mohammadian 2
- . Mahnaz Khanavi 3
- . Mahnaz Mirimoghaddam 3
- . Seyed Mehrdad Savar 4
- . Maryam Nikoosokhan 5
- . Hooshyar Honarmand 1
- . Niayesh Mohebbi 1
1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Pharmacognosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Bahar Sepinood Company, Tehran University Science and Technology Park, College of Agriculture, Alborz, Iran
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an herbal formulation
based on Boswellia sacra in improving cognitive and behavioral symptoms
in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild-to-moderate
stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: A 3-month, parallel-group,
placebo-controlled trial was implemented from October 2021 to April
2022. Patients with MCI and mild-to-moderate stages of AD aged above
50 years (n = 60; 40 women, 20 men) enrolled in the study using clinical
diagnosis and a score of 10–30 on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE)
test. They were assigned into two groups; one receiving a herbal formulation)
include B. sacra, Melissa officinalis, Piper longum, Cinnamomum verum, and
Physalis alkekengi) three times a day and the other receiving a placebo for
3 months. The main efficacy measures were the changes in cognitive domains
based on the MMSE and changes in behavioral and psychiatric symptoms
based on neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) scores compared with baseline. Side
effects were also recorded. Findings: Results of this study showed significant
differences between the two groups after 3 months in terms of all the assessed
variables, including the overall result of the mean score of MMSE and NPI
tests (P ≤ 0.001). The herbal formulation had the most considerable effects
on the domains of orientation, attention, working memory, delay recall, and
language of the MMSE test. Conclusion: Herbal formulation based on B. sacra
was significantly effective compared to a placebo in improving cognitive and
behavioral symptoms in patients with MCI and mild-to-moderate AD.
Keywords
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