Griffonia Seed Extract (5HTP) a LINNEA Botanical Brief

A natural approach to the management of serotonin deficiency with 5HTP.

Serotonin deficiency. Depression, insomnia, addiction, obsessive or compulsive behaviour, PMS, obesity and anxiety have become amongst the most prevalent and frequently recurring disorders in the modern world; conditions that can often lead to long-term use of prescription drugs. Griffonia seed extract or 5HTP offers a natural alternative to help manage these conditions which are often characterised by a common biochemical origin, serotonin deficiency. The serotoninergic system. The serotoninergic system is known to modulate mood, emotion, sleep and appetite and thus is implicated in the control of numerous behavioural and physiological functions. Decreased serotoninergic neurotransmission has been proposed to play a key role in the aetiology of depression and associated conditions. Direct serotonin precursor. The majority of treatments designed to modulate serotonin levels in the brain such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine are specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, effectively blocking the reuptake of serotonin in the body. SSRIs can often have unpleasant side effects especially in prolonged use. A natural alternative is supplementation of L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5HTP), the direct serotonin precursor in the brain, which works by providing more of the base raw material the body needs to metabolise serotonin and therefore naturally raise serotonin levels. Unlike SSRIs, 5HTP has few known side effects with excess 5HTP or serotonin passing safely out of the body. References 1~42 improve mood, it can help control appetite.

the important neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates several vital processes in the body, including sleep, emotional stability and addictive cravings. When levels of serotonin drop too low, this can lead to a range of symptoms, ranging from anxiety to obsessive behaviour, insomnia and depression.

Weight management. Research has shown that low serotonin levels can significantly contribute in the desire to overeat with abnormally low levels of serotonin common in obese individuals who crave carbohydrates. Taking a 5HTP supplement half an hour before a meal can " turn off" cravings and hunger pangs by feeding the brains carbohydrate satiety center. In this way 5HTP Comfort foods. Serotonin is manufactured in the body from the can be a great asset as part of a weight-loss regime. amino acid tryptophan, which is found in certain foods. This ex- Depression. 5HTP has a long established use in Europe as an plains, at least in part, why many people reach for ice cream, alternative to anti-depressants. In several trials 5HTP has proved sweets and pastries when they feel stressed or depressed as an to be as effective as drug counterparts, but without any of their instinctive attempt to increase their uptake of tryptophan, elevate undesired side effects. their serotonin levels and improve their mood. However, significant quantities of these "comfort foods" (with unwanted fat, sugar Addiction. In overcoming addiction 5HTP can also be an effecand calories) are needed to significantly raise serotonin levels. (Continued on page 2) Taking 5HTP in the form of a supplement instead, can not only

How can 5HTP help when serotonin levels drop too low. 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan or 5HTP is the precursor to

Serotonin pharmacology
Serotonin is endogenously synthesised from tryptophan usually contained in several foods (mainly meat and dairy products). Tryptophan is available in the plasma both free or bound to plasma proteins and only minimal quantities of the free form is passing the blood/brain barrier in competition with other aminoacids. Tryptophan is transformed into 5HTP by the Ltryptophan-hydroxylase and then to 5-HT (serotonin) by L-aminoacid-decarboxylase. Once formed 5-HT is inactivated and transformed by mitochondria MAO enzymes into 5-HIAA. Only 1% of the total amount of tryptophan is transformed into serotonin.

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Revised 8th August 2002

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tive supportive treatment. The use of many addictive substances, such as tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and certain narcotics, elevates serotonin levels. When these substances are eliminated, serotonin levels drop drastically which may cause anxiety and cravings. These symptoms of withdrawal can be reduced in some patients by taking 5HTP to help stabilize serotonin levels. PMS. The supplement can also help to counteract the hormone induced decreases in serotonin levels that occur naturally during menstruation. PMS sufferers have reported decreased irritability and mood swings when using 5HTP. Restful sleep. Serotonin has been shown to have a direct effect on sleep phasing. 5HTP may help this process as well as helping to alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression that may prevent restful sleep. However, unlike sedative drugs, 5HTP is not associated with unwanted side effects, such as disturbed sleep patterns or grogginess and can therefore be taken on a regular basis as a remedy insomnia. Migraine In all the open-label trials and in those vs. placebo the treatment with 5HTP was shown to significantly improve the symptom scores (migraine index, pain score, etc.) and the frequency and severity of the headache. Almost 74% of patients were considered as responders to treatment with an improvement of the symptoms in 86% of cases. 5-HTP was shown to be superior to ASA and as effective as dihydroergotamine. Chronic tension headaches. A recent study for the Portuguese Headache Society.(2002) has also demonstrated 5HTP to be an effective prophylactic treatment for chronic tension headaches without the reactions often associated with drugs. References 1~42

Griffonia seed
L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) is a natural extract from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia tree found principally in the West African countries of Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo. Traditional African uses for the plant include the use of the stem and roots as chewing sticks, leaves to aid in the healing of wounds, whilst the leaf juice is used as an enema and for the treatment of kidney ailments. A decoction of the steams and leaves is also used to stop vomiting, to treat congestion of the pelvis and as an aphrodisiac. The bark-pulp is also applied as a plaster to soft chancres.

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Toxicity & Safety

The administration of 5HTP could induce nausea, occasionally vomiting and some other minor GI disturbances such as abdominal cramping and pain, diarrhoea that in general lessen or disappear once the steady state dose is reached. Mild and transient variations in blood pressure could also be observed, while rare adverse effects are headache and palpitations. No significant laboratory changes were observed in all the clinical studies.

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