Forskare har för första gången visat effekterna av Matcha-tepulver och -extrakt för att minska ångest i en djurmodell. Matcha är ett säkert, naturligt alternativ för att lindra ångest och höja humöret.
Humör och ångest disorders are becoming commonplace in our fast-paced and often stressful lives. Ångest disorders and fear has been linked to disturbance in dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in our brain. Ångest symptoms also increases risk of other medical disorders and affects overall wellbeing of a person. Anxiolytic (or antianxiety) agents like benzodiazepines and serotonin inhibitors are generally used for treatment as they reduce or inhibit ångest. However, they have many side effects, sometimes even adverse, and they also increase dependency. Safer, natural alternative need to be developed for ångest ledning.
In Japan, ‘Matcha’ has been used since a long time for different medicinal purposes. Matcha is a finely grounded power of new leaves from tree plant called Camellia sinensis som får växa endast i skugga. Matcha pulver används för att göra Matcha te by adding it directly to hot water. It is also used for adding flavour to food. Matcha te is different from regular green tea in its content mainly because of differences cultivation and processing. Camellia sinensis växten är rik på L-teanin, epigallokatechingallat (EGCG), koffein, vitaminer och aminosyror och därför ger Matcha flera fördelar kopplade till dessa bioaktiva substanser. Det används ofta i Japan för läkning, avslappning och till och med behandling av hudåkommor. Det finns dock mycket begränsade vetenskapliga bevis för att stödja ovanstående påståenden. Dessutom har effekterna av Matcha-pulver på beteendeaspekter inte undersökts hittills.
En studie som publicerades i Journal of Functional Foods has investigated and demonstrated the effects of Matcha te powder, hot water extract and ethanol extract for antiångest activity in an animal model (here, mice). Researchers conducted an elevated plus maze (EPM) test in healthy animals. EPM involves use of an elevated plus-shaped platform which has two open arms and two closed arms with walls around it. It is a commonly used anxiety test in which animal subjects which are anxious try to stay on the safe area of the plus where they cannot fall off.
The animals were orally administered Matcha powder and extract or fractions dissolved in water. Results showed that the animals who had consumed Matcha had reduced ångest. The strongest effect was seen in Matcha extract derived using 80% ethanol when compared to extract derived from hot water. This meant that poor water-solubility of Matcha has better antiångest effect than when it was easily water soluble. The ethanol extract was fractioned further into hexane soluble, ethyl acetate soluble and water-soluble fractions which exhibited similar results. Behavioural analysis showed that Matcha power and extract reduce ångest by activating dopamine D1 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors which are closely linked to anxious behaviour.
The current study conducted on mice demonstrates that Matcha te powder and extract have a positive calming effect and reduce anxiety by activating dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in the brain. Matcha is a safe and natural alternative for alleviating anxiety.
***
{Du kan läsa den ursprungliga forskningsartikeln genom att klicka på DOI-länken nedan i listan över citerade källor}
Källa (er)
Kurauchi, Y. et al. 2019. Anxiolytic activities of Matcha te powder, extracts, and fractions in mice: Contribution of dopamine D1 receptor- and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor-mediated mechanisms. Journal of Functional Foods. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.05.046
