Guarana Extract benefit and side effects, danger, risks - Learn about a natural appetite suppressant

Guarana is also known as Paullinia cupana or Brazilian cocoa. Guarana is found in some soft drinks imported from South America in a manner similar to American soft-drinks fortified with caffeine. Some over the counter weight loss pills contain guarana or an extract along with hoodia.

Guarana extract and caffeine
Guarana extract contains very high concentrations of caffeine and has been used as a stimulant and appetite suppressant.

Guarana extract side effects
Guarana extract side effects include loss of appetite, nervousness, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, stomach upset, and headache. A serious guarana side effect is abnormal heart rhythm, particularly if it is combined with phentermine, alcohol, or other drugs and substances that influence heart rhythm.

Allergy benefit
Inhibitory effects of guarana seed extract on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and mast cell degranulation.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009; Jippo T, Kobayashi Y, Sato H, Hattori A, Takeuchi H, Sugimoto K. Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Life Sciences, Senri Kinran University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
This study investigated the effects of guarana seed extract (GSE) on an anti-allergic mechanism. GSE orally administered inhibited the anti-dinitrophenol IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in mice. Furthermore, it inhibited the degranulation of rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. It had no cytotoxicity on RBL-2H3 cells. These results show that GSE is a candidate for effective therapeutic material for allergic diseases.

Effect on mood in rodents
Effect of lyophilized extracts from guaraná seeds [Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke] on behavioral profiles in rats.
Phytother Res. 20075. Otobone FJ, Sanches AC, Nagae R, Martins JV, Sela VR, de Mello JC, Audi EA.
Departamento de Farmácia e Farmacologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, CEP, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the pharmacological properties of the crude lyophilized extract of guaraná and the semi-purified guarana extracts after acute or chronic administration by the oral route in rats. Anxiolytic-like, antidepressant-like and motor stimulant effects were evaluated using the plus maze, forced swimming (FST) and open field (OFT) tests, respectively. Acute or chronic administration of crude lyophilized extract of guaraná did not alter the percentage of entries or the time spent in the open arm in the PMT. In the FST, chronic treatment with 30 mg crude lyophilized extract of guaraná /kg and 4 mg semi-purified guarana extracts /kg decreased the immobility time similarly to the antidepressant reference drug, imipramine (20 mg/kg). Locomotor activity in the OFT was not increased by these guarana extracts. Caffeine significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST, but increased locomotor activity in the OFT, indicating psychostimulant activity. The present results suggest that the crude lyophilized guaraná extract and semi-purified guarana extract produced an antidepressant-like effect after long-term administration.

emails
Q. Is drinking a guarana drink helpful as a weight loss cure?
   A. We don't think so. Guarana may be helpful when used with other supplements for weight loss, but not by itself.