Guarana (Brazilian name guaraná) (IPA: [gu̯a.ra.'na], [gu̯a.ɾa.'na] or [gu̯a.ɹa.'na]), Paullinia cupana (syn. P. crysan, P. sorbilis), is a climbing plant in the
Sapindaceae family, native to the Amazon basin. While
guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, it is best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a
coffee berry. Each fruit contains about one seed, which contains approximately three times as
much caffeine as coffee beans.[1] Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system, cardiac muscle, as well as the
respiratory system.[2]
The guarana fruit's color ranges from orange to red and contains black seeds which are partly
covered by white arils. The color contrast when the fruit has been split open has been likened to
eyeballs; this has formed the basis of a myth.[3]
History and culture
The word guarana comes from the Portuguese guaraná, which has its origins in the Sateré-Mawé language word warana.[4]
Guarana plays an important role in Tupi and Guaraní
Brazilian culture. According to a myth dating back to the Sateré-Maué tribe, guarana's
domestication originated with a deity killing a beloved village child. In order to console the villagers, a more benevolent god
plucked the left eye from the child and planted it in the forest, resulting in the wild variety of guarana. The god then plucked
the right eye from the child and planted it in the village, giving rise to domesticated guarana.[5]
The Guarinís would make this tea by shelling and washing the seeds, followed by pounding them into a fine powder. The powder
is kneaded into a dough and then shaped into cylinders. This product is known as guarana bread or Brazilian cocoa, which would be
grated and then immersed into hot water along with sugar.[1]
This plant was introduced to western civilization in the 17th century following its discovery by Father Felip Betendorf. By 1958, guarana was
commercialized.[1]
Composition
Below are chemicals found in guarana[6][7].
| Chemical |
Plant part |
Parts per million |
| Adenine |
seed |
|
| Ash |
seed |
< 14,200 |
| Caffeine or guaranine |
seed |
9,100 - 76,000 |
| Catechutannic-acid |
seed |
|
| Choline |
seed |
|
| D-catechin |
seed |
|
| Fat |
seed |
< 30,000 |
| Guanine |
seed |
|
| Hypoxanthine |
seed |
|
| Mucilage |
seed |
|
| Protein |
seed |
< 98,600 |
| Resin |
seed |
< 70,000 |
| Saponin |
seed |
|
| Starch |
seed |
50,000 - 60,000 |
| Tannin |
seed |
50,000 - 120,000 |
| Theobromine |
seed |
200 - 400 |
| Theophylline |
seed |
0 - 2500 |
| Timbonine |
seed |
|
| Xanthine |
seed |
|
The chemical guaranine is identical to caffeine derived from other sources, for
example coffee, tea, and mate.
Guaranine, theine, and mateine are all official synonyms for caffeine.[8]
Uses
Guarana is used in soft drinks (such as Bawls), where it is
sweetened and then carbonated. It is also used in pure form in energy shots such as SuddenRush Guarana. Additionally, it is used
as an ingredient in herbal tea and made into capsules. Oftentimes, guarana is marketed as a
unique stimulant, distinct from caffeine; this is to take advantage of the fact that not many consumers are aware that caffeine
is found in a wide variety of plants.[1]
In general, South America obtains most of its caffeine from guarana.[9]
Beverages
- See also: List of beverages
containing guarana
Brazil, which consumes the third-most amount of soft drinks in the world,[10] produces several
brands of soft drink from guarana extract. Exceeding Brazilian sales of cola drinks[11], guarana-containing beverages may not cause jitters associated with drinking coffee, a perception that could be a placebo effect or result from another
substance.[9]
Cognitive effects
Chemically equivalent to caffeine, guarana is of interest for its potential effects on cognition.
In rats, guarana increased memory retention and physical endurance when compared with a placebo.[12]
A 2007 human pilot study [13] assessed acute behavioral
effects to four doses (37.5 mg, 75 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg) of guarana extract. Memory, alertness and mood were increased by the
two lower doses, confirming previous results of cognitive improvement following 75 mg guaraná. These studies have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or any similar government
agencies, and do not imply medical or regulatory approval for use of guarana to enhance cognition.
Other uses and side-effects
In the United States, guarana holds a GRAS-status, i.e. generally regarded as safe.[14]
One study showed an average 11.2 pound weight loss in a group taking a mixture of yerba
mate, guarana, and damiana, compared to an average 1 pound loss in a placebo group after
45 days[15], although another study was inconclusive about
effects of guarana on body weight[16].
A study in Brazil of guarana extract showed reduced aggregation of rabbit platelets by up to 37% below control values and decreased platelet thromboxane formation from arachidonic acid by 78% below control values.[17] It is not known if such platelet action has any effect for reducing risk of heart attack or ischemic
stroke.[18]
Other studies showed antioxidant, antibacterial, and
fat cell reduction (when combined with conjugated
linoleic acid) from chronic intake of guarana.[19]
From anecdotal evidence of excessive consumption of energy drinks, guarana may contribute (alone or in combination with
caffeine and taurine) to the onset of seizures[20].
Although side-effects of guarana are rare, drugs.com recommends: "when considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation
with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of
herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be
advantageous". Drugs.com also advises not to mix guarana with ephedrine.[21]
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d Bennett Alan Weinberg, and Bonnie K.Bealer, The World of
Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug (New York: Routledge, 2001) 259-60
- ^ Bennett Alan Weinberg, and Bonnie K.Bealer, The World of Caffeine: The
Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug (New York: Routledge, 2001) 280
- ^ Sir Ghillean Prance, Mark Nesbitt (2004). Cultural History of Plants. New York: Routledge,
179.
- ^ guarana. Merriam Webster. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
- ^ Hans T. Beck, "10 Caffeine, Alcohol,
and Sweeteners," Cultural History of Plants, ed. Sir Ghillean Prance and Mark Nesbitt (New York: Routledge, 2004) 179
- ^ Guarana. Dr.
Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases (2007-09-18). Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
- ^ Duke, James A. 1992. Handbook of phytochemical
constituents of GRAS herbs and other economic plants. Boca Raton, FL. CRC Press.
- ^ Caffeine. Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ a b Bennett Alan Weinberg, and Bonnie K.Bealer, The World of
Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug (New York: Routledge, 2001) 230
- ^ Bennett Alan Weinberg, and
Bonnie K. Bealer, The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug (New York: Routledge, 2001)
192-3
- ^ Matt Moffett and Nikhil Deogun, The Wall Street Journal. Guarana's potent reputation makes
consumers drink it up. Standard-Times. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
- ^ Espinola EB, et al. (1997).
"Pharmacological activity of Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) in laboratory animals". J Ethnopharmacol 55 (3):
223-9.
- ^ Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Wesnes KA, Milne AL, Scholey AB. A double-blind,
placebo-controlled, multi-dose evaluation of the acute behavioural effects of guarana in humans. J Psychopharmacol. 2007
Jan;21(1):65-70. Abstract.
- ^ Energy Drinks.
University of California, Davis" (April 2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
- ^ Anderson, T and Foght, J (2001). "Weight loss and
delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients". J Hum Nutr Diet
14 (3): 243.
- ^ Sale C, Harris RC, Delves S, Corbett J. Metabolic and physiological effects
of ingesting extracts of bitter orange, green tea and guarana at rest and during treadmill walking in overweight males. Int J
Obes (Lond). 2006 May;30(5):764-73. Abstract.
- ^ Bydlowski SP, et al. (1991). "An aqueous
extract of guarana (Paullinia cupana) decreases platelet thromboxane synthesis". Braz J Med Biol Res 24 (4):
421-4.
- ^ Nicolaou, KC et al. (1979). "Synthesis and
biological properties of pinane-thromboxane A2, a selective inhibitor of coronary artery constriction, platelet aggregation, and
thromboxane formation". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76 (6): 2566-2570. PMID 288046.
- ^ Terpstra, et al. (2002). "The Decrease in Body Fat in Mice Fed Conjugated
Linoleic Acid Is Due to Increases in Energy Expenditure and Energy Loss in the Excreta". J Nutr 132:
940-945.
- ^ 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. Abstract.
- ^ guarana. Drugs.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
External links
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