Guarana Benefits and Side
Effects
Effects
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reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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Guarana (Paullinia cupana, P. crysan and P. sorbilis), a native Brazilian plant, is a
climbing plant in the Sapindaceae. It has large leaves and clusters of flowers. Guarana
supplement is used as energy booster; it is mainly because it contains about twice the
caffeine found in coffee beans. Caffeine is a defensive toxin to repel pathogens from its
berry and seeds. Its seed is a bomb of bio-actives; it has caffeine, tannin, theobromine,
theophylline and more. [Wikipedia]
Guarana extracts have been shown to contain antioxidants and to perform antioxidant
activities. The extract, at a concentration between 16 and 128 microg/ml, showed a
significant antibacterial effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
[1]
Brazilian researchers demonstrated that Paullinia cupana extracts could help against
Streptococcus mutans and they suggested to use Paullinia cupana extracts to prevent
dental plaque. [2]
What makes people believe guarana may benefit people at risk of thrombosis and
cardiovascular diseases?
Researchers from University of Cincinnati Medical Center found catechins,
epicatechins and their dimmers in extracts of dried guarana seeds. They thought these
compounds might contribute the anti-platelet aggregatory activities of guarana seeds.
[3]
Researchers from Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Brazil, demonstrated the
antidepressant-like and anxiolytic activities of guarana seed extracts in a rat study.
However, the extracts did not increase locomotor activity. In the forced swimming,
chronic treatment with guarana extracts decreased the immobility time similarly to the
antidepressant reference drug, imipramine. [4]
What are the side effects of guarana?
A cell study indicates that high does of guarana is harmful to human health. [5]
Iyadurai SJ and Chung SS. from St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center reported a
series of four patients who had discrete seizures on multiple occasions, following
heavy consumption of energy drinks. And, these energy drinks contained caffeine,
guarana, and herbal supplements, such as ginkgo and ginseng are major
components. Once the patients were abstinent from the energy drinks, no recurrent
seizures were reported. [6]
Reference:
[1] Basile A, Ferrara L, Pezzo MD, Mele G, Sorbo S, Bassi P, Montesano D. Antibacterial
and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from Paullinia cupana Mart. J
Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 31;102(1):32-6. [2] Yamaguti-Sasaki E, Ito LA, Canteli VC,
Ushirobira TM, Ueda-Nakamura T, Dias Filho BP, Nakamura CV, de Mello JC.
Antioxidant capacity and in vitro prevention of dental plaque formation by extracts and
condensed tannins of Paullinia cupana. Molecules. 2007 Aug 20;12(8):1950-63. [3]
Ravi Subbiah MT, Yunker R. Studies on the nature of anti-platelet aggregatory factors in
the seeds of the Amazonian Herb Guarana (Paullinia cupana). Int J Vitam Nutr Res.
2008 Mar;78(2):96-101. [4] Otobone FJ, Sanches AC, Nagae R, Martins JV, Sela VR, de
Mello JC, Audi EA. Effect of lyophilized extracts from guaraná seeds [Paullinia cupana
var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke] on behavioral profiles in rats. Phytother Res. 2007
Jun;21(6):531-5. [5] Santa Maria A, Lopez A, Diaz MM, Muñoz-Mingarro D, Pozuelo JM.
Evaluation of the toxicity of guarana with in vitro bioassays. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1998
Mar;39(3):164-7. [6] Iyadurai SJ, Chung SS. New-onset seizures in adults: possible
association with consumption of popular energy drinks. Epilepsy Behav. 2007
May;10(3):504-8. Epub 2007 Mar 8.
climbing plant in the Sapindaceae. It has large leaves and clusters of flowers. Guarana
supplement is used as energy booster; it is mainly because it contains about twice the
caffeine found in coffee beans. Caffeine is a defensive toxin to repel pathogens from its
berry and seeds. Its seed is a bomb of bio-actives; it has caffeine, tannin, theobromine,
theophylline and more. [Wikipedia]
Guarana extracts have been shown to contain antioxidants and to perform antioxidant
activities. The extract, at a concentration between 16 and 128 microg/ml, showed a
significant antibacterial effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
[1]
Brazilian researchers demonstrated that Paullinia cupana extracts could help against
Streptococcus mutans and they suggested to use Paullinia cupana extracts to prevent
dental plaque. [2]
What makes people believe guarana may benefit people at risk of thrombosis and
cardiovascular diseases?
Researchers from University of Cincinnati Medical Center found catechins,
epicatechins and their dimmers in extracts of dried guarana seeds. They thought these
compounds might contribute the anti-platelet aggregatory activities of guarana seeds.
[3]
Researchers from Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Brazil, demonstrated the
antidepressant-like and anxiolytic activities of guarana seed extracts in a rat study.
However, the extracts did not increase locomotor activity. In the forced swimming,
chronic treatment with guarana extracts decreased the immobility time similarly to the
antidepressant reference drug, imipramine. [4]
What are the side effects of guarana?
A cell study indicates that high does of guarana is harmful to human health. [5]
Iyadurai SJ and Chung SS. from St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center reported a
series of four patients who had discrete seizures on multiple occasions, following
heavy consumption of energy drinks. And, these energy drinks contained caffeine,
guarana, and herbal supplements, such as ginkgo and ginseng are major
components. Once the patients were abstinent from the energy drinks, no recurrent
seizures were reported. [6]
Reference:
[1] Basile A, Ferrara L, Pezzo MD, Mele G, Sorbo S, Bassi P, Montesano D. Antibacterial
and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from Paullinia cupana Mart. J
Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct 31;102(1):32-6. [2] Yamaguti-Sasaki E, Ito LA, Canteli VC,
Ushirobira TM, Ueda-Nakamura T, Dias Filho BP, Nakamura CV, de Mello JC.
Antioxidant capacity and in vitro prevention of dental plaque formation by extracts and
condensed tannins of Paullinia cupana. Molecules. 2007 Aug 20;12(8):1950-63. [3]
Ravi Subbiah MT, Yunker R. Studies on the nature of anti-platelet aggregatory factors in
the seeds of the Amazonian Herb Guarana (Paullinia cupana). Int J Vitam Nutr Res.
2008 Mar;78(2):96-101. [4] Otobone FJ, Sanches AC, Nagae R, Martins JV, Sela VR, de
Mello JC, Audi EA. Effect of lyophilized extracts from guaraná seeds [Paullinia cupana
var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke] on behavioral profiles in rats. Phytother Res. 2007
Jun;21(6):531-5. [5] Santa Maria A, Lopez A, Diaz MM, Muñoz-Mingarro D, Pozuelo JM.
Evaluation of the toxicity of guarana with in vitro bioassays. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1998
Mar;39(3):164-7. [6] Iyadurai SJ, Chung SS. New-onset seizures in adults: possible
association with consumption of popular energy drinks. Epilepsy Behav. 2007
May;10(3):504-8. Epub 2007 Mar 8.