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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

The effect of Sailuotong (SLT) on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover pilot trial

Authors: Genevieve Z. Steiner, Alan Yeung, Jian-Xun Liu, David A. Camfield, Frances M. de Blasio, Andrew Pipingas, Andrew B. Scholey, Con Stough, Dennis H. Chang

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Sailuotong (SLT) is a standardised herbal medicine formula consisting of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, and Crocus sativus, and has been designed to enhance cognitive and cardiovascular function.

Methods

Using a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover design, this pilot study assessed the effect of treatment for 1 week with SLT and placebo (1 week washout period) on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in healthy adults. Sixteen adults completed a computerised neuropsychological test battery (Compass), and had their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and cardiovascular system function assessed. Primary outcome measures were cognitive test scores and oddball task event-related potential (ERP) component amplitudes. Secondary outcome measures were resting EEG spectral band amplitudes, and cardiovascular parameters.

Results

Treatment with SLT, compared to placebo, resulted in small improvements in working memory, a slight increase in auditory target (cf. nontarget) P3a amplitude, and a decrease in auditory N1 target (cf. nontarget) amplitude. There was no effect of SLT on EEG amplitude in delta, theta, alpha, or beta bands in both eyes open and eyes closed resting conditions, or on aortic and peripheral pulse pressure, and resting heartrate.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that SLT has the potential to improve working memory performance in healthy adults; a larger sample size is needed to confirm this.

Trial registration

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Trial Registration Id: ACTRN12610000947​000.
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Metadata
Title
The effect of Sailuotong (SLT) on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover pilot trial
Authors
Genevieve Z. Steiner
Alan Yeung
Jian-Xun Liu
David A. Camfield
Frances M. de Blasio
Andrew Pipingas
Andrew B. Scholey
Con Stough
Dennis H. Chang
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-0989-0

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