title: The effect of Sailuotong (SLT) on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in healthy adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover pilot trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sailuotong (SLT) is a standardised herbal medicine formula consisting of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, and Crocus sativus, and has been designed to enhance cognitive and cardiovascular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover design, this pilot study assessed the effect of treatment for 1 week with SLT and placebo (1 week washout period) on neurocognitive and cardiovascular function in healthy adults. Sixteen adults completed a computerised neuropsychological test battery (Compass), and had their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and cardiovascular system function assessed. Primary outcome measures were cognitive test scores and oddball task event-related potential (ERP) component amplitudes. Secondary outcome measures were resting EEG spectral band amplitudes, and cardiovascular parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with SLT, compared to placebo, resulted in small improvements in working memory, a slight increase in auditory target (cf. nontarget) P3a amplitude, and a decrease in auditory N1 target (cf. nontarget) amplitude. There was no effect of SLT on EEG amplitude in delta, theta, alpha, or beta bands in both eyes open and eyes closed resting conditions, or on aortic and peripheral pulse pressure, and resting heartrate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that SLT has the potential to improve working memory performance in healthy adults; a larger sample size is needed to confirm this.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Trial Registration Id: ACTRN12610000947000 .
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Complementary Medicine, and School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.|Centre for Psychophysics, Psychophysiology, and Psychopharmacology; Brain & Behaviour Research Institute; and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Genevieve Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Complementary Medicine, and School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Xun
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.|Illawarra Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Camfield
authors.affiliation: Centre for Psychophysics, Psychophysiology, and Psychopharmacology; Brain & Behaviour Research Institute; and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances M de
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Blasio
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pipingas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Scholey
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Con
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stough
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Complementary Medicine, and School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. D.Chang@westernsydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D027622:Crocus; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations