Wanasayansi wameonyesha kwa mara ya kwanza athari za unga wa chai ya Matcha na dondoo katika kupunguza wasiwasi katika mfano wa wanyama. Matcha ni mbadala salama, ya asili ili kupunguza wasiwasi na kuinua hisia.
Mood na wasiwasi disorders are becoming commonplace in our fast-paced and often stressful lives. Wasiwasi disorders and fear has been linked to disturbance in dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in our brain. Wasiwasi 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 wasiwasi. However, they have many side effects, sometimes even adverse, and they also increase dependency. Safer, natural alternative need to be developed for wasiwasi usimamizi.
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 ambayo inaruhusiwa kukua tu katika kivuli. Poda ya matcha hutumiwa kutengeneza Chai ya Matcha by adding it directly to hot water. It is also used for adding flavour to food. Matcha chai is different from regular green tea in its content mainly because of differences cultivation and processing. Camellia sinensis mmea una utajiri wa L-theanine, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), kafeini, vitamini na asidi ya amino na hivyo kuteketeza Matcha hutoa faida kadhaa zinazohusishwa na vitu hivi vya bioactive. Inatumika sana nchini Japani kwa uponyaji, kupumzika na hata matibabu ya hali ya ngozi. Hata hivyo, ushahidi mdogo sana wa kisayansi unapatikana ili kuunga mkono madai hayo hapo juu. Pia, athari za unga wa Matcha kwenye vipengele vya tabia hazijachunguzwa hadi sasa.
Utafiti uliochapishwa katika Journal ya Chakula Kazi has investigated and demonstrated the effects of Matcha chai powder, hot water extract and ethanol extract for kupambana na wasiwasi 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 wasiwasi. 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 kupambana na wasiwasi 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 wasiwasi 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 chai 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.
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{Unaweza kusoma karatasi asili ya utafiti kwa kubofya kiungo cha DOI kilichotolewa hapa chini katika orodha ya (vyanzo) vilivyotajwa}
Chanzo (s)
Kurauchi, Y. et al. 2019. Anxiolytic activities of Matcha chai 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
