Research & Development In Brief

Herbal supplement could help smokers quit: A wild oats extract that Frutarom Switzerland developed for its Neuravena herbal supplement potentially could help smokers quit if used in the first few weeks after stopping smoking, according research in Japan. A recent study in Pharmocometrics found the eight participants cut the number of cigarettes they smoked daily to between 4.5 and 13.3 from 15.9 to 23.1 by taking three capsules of Neuravena daily for 28 days. The average carbon monoxide concentration the men exhaled also fell from a median level of 17 ppm to 11.9 ppm. The researchers say the CO concentration drop was not statistically significant, and mental stress levels did not change. They suggest future studies examine Neuravena's effect for a longer period and with different intake amounts. The study, conducted by researchers including staff from ASK Intercity Co., which distributes Neuravena, was not blinded or placebo controlled