Hexaraphane
Hexaraphane (6-MSTIC), a Functional Component of Wasabi, Has Been Found to Improve Memory in the Elderly
6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate (6-MSITC)
The health and beauty power of wasabi is now attracting attention. It is no exaggeration to say that Wasabi is one of the most popular ingredients in Japanese cuisine, and in recent years, various studies have revealed its excellent functional properties. Hexalaphane (6-MSITC), a functional ingredient found in the rhizomes and roots of Wasabi, is known to have antioxidant properties that suppress the generation of active oxygen. Unfortunately, common tube wasabi does not contain hexalaphane, which can be ingested by grating the rhizome of the wasabi or by using supplements or functional foods that contain hexalaphane.
Significance of this study
The function of the brain to remember and judge things is called cognitive function (memory, processing speed, inhibition ability, etc.). This cognitive function declines with age, and this is one of the factors that make social activities difficult for the elderly. As the birthrate declines and the population ages, not only in Japan but also in other countries around the world, maintaining and improving cognitive function is a major concern for people living in the modern age.
Research Objectives and Methods
A double-blind, randomized, controlled study (double blind test) was conducted on healthy elderly subjects in order to elucidate whether or not hexalaphane has any effect on cognitive function in the elderly.
Seventy-two healthy elderly subjects (mean age 65.43 years, 19 males and 53 females) were divided into two groups: (1) the " hexalaphane group" (a group taking one supplement containing hexalaphane per day (containing 0.8 mg of hexalaphane) for 12 weeks) and (2) the A randomized controlled experiment was conducted in which subjects were divided into two groups: (1) a "placebo group" (a group taking a placebo supplement containing no hexalaphane at all, one grain per day for 12 weeks), which took a placebo supplement containing no hexalaphane at all.
Subjects took one tablet a day for 12 weeks in each group, and cognitive function tests were conducted: "logical memory," in which subjects listened to 20 sentences (clauses) and remembered the contents, "face-name memory," in which subjects remembered combinations of faces and names, and "reverse recitation," in which subjects listened to a sequence of numbers and answered in the reverse order, and each score was compared. The scores were compared.
Results and Discussion of the Study
The results of the analysis revealed that the group that took hexalaphane daily significantly improved their performance in episodic memory (test name: logical memory and memory of family names) and working memory (test name: reverse recitation).
This study has elucidated that continuous intake of hexalaphane contained in wasabi (Wasabi) is effective in improving memory in the elderly. The results were published in Nutrients, a European scientific journal in the field of nutritional science (October 30, 2023), and have been covered by Forbes and many other national and international media.
The efficacy of hexalaphane, which has attracted a great deal of attention in the field of brain science, will be increasingly studied in the future.