Brain factor-7 extracted from Bombyx mori enhances cognition and attention in normal children

J Med Food. 2009 Jun;12(3):643-8. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2008.1236.

Abstract

It has been reported that brain factor-7 (BF-7) extracted from Bombyx mori improves cognitive functions in normal juveniles and adults as well as cognitively impaired patients. Clinical studies with normal children evaluated the role of BF-7 on brain function in these patients. The objective of this study was to improve cognitive functions of normal schoolchildren with BF-7. Forty-six normal healthy children were divided into two treatment groups: BF-7 (9.9 +/- 1.18 years old; 9 boys, 14 girls) and placebo (9.8 +/- 1.03 years old; 10 boys, 13 girls). The Color Trails Making Test was used to measure the efficacy of BF-7 on cognition and attention. Results showed that BF-7 reduced the response time by an average of 23% for the Color Trails Making Test. Moreover, BF-7 improved the accuracy of the task around twofold. The results reveal that BF-7 improves brain function for attention and cognitive flexibility in children.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Attention / drug effects*
  • Bombyx* / chemistry
  • Child
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insect Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Insect Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Nootropic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Nootropic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Reference Values
  • Trail Making Test

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nootropic Agents