Development of a Herb-Based Dietary Ingredient with Potential Nootropic Properties: From Bench to Bedside

Cognitive decline is a natural process that occurs during aging. Several natural solutions called nootropics exist that can help mitigate this process. However, in some cases, there is a lack of scientific evidence on their potential mechanisms and efficacy. To this end, a total of nine different herb extracts with potential nootropic activity were evaluated. These herb extracts were tested in human neural stem cell cultures exposed to oxidative stress, where reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, cell survival and trophic factor expression were analyzed. Of these extracts, Salvia officinalis (sage) was observed to possess the most significant effect. Its combination with rutin demonstrated additional benefits than with only sage. A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study was then performed, testing the effects of the combination at two different doses for 12 weeks in healthy volunteers aged 50+ with mild cognitive impairment. As a result, the blend significantly improved several characteristics related to memory, particularly memory recall, with a more noticeable effect in the higher dose. Therefore, this study reveals the potential nootropic effect of a blend comprising Salvia officinalis and rutin. This blend could be a candidate dietary ingredient with potential nootropic properties.