The effect of rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on cognitive function and activities of daily living of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A clinical trial

Explore (NY). 2024 May-Jun;20(3):362-370. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.09.008. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Abstract

Background: In patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive impairment and reduced activities of daily living (ADLs) are associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on cognitive function and ADLs in patients with COPD.

Methods: A total of 77 COPD patients aged 40-80 years were assigned to two intervention and control groups by random stratified block method in the current tripleblind clinical trial. The intervention group received 500 mg rosemary capsules and the control group received oral capsules containing corn powder twice a day, one to two hours before breakfast and dinner, for two months. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B), London Chest Activity of Daily Living scale (LCADL) and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were used to measure cognitive function and the measure of basic and instrumental daily life activities, before and after the intervention, respectively.

Results: The mean total score of cognitive function (P = 0.022) and the two subscales of abstraction (P = 0.003) and naming (P = 0.034) significantly increased after the intervention in the intervention group. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of changes in the mean scores of IADL and LCADL (P < 0.05). The final statistical model showed that the changes in the total mean score of cognitive function (P = 0.014) and IADL (P = 0.047) in intervention group patients are significantly higher than in the control group after adjusting the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Conclusion: The rosemary hydroalcoholic extract can be effective in improving cognitive function and IADL in patients with COPD, but not LCADL.

Clinical trials registration number: IRCT20150919024080N16.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cognitive function; Herbal medicine; Rosemary.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognition* / drug effects
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts* / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / drug therapy
  • Rosmarinus*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts