Guarana

Guarana (Brazilian name guaraná) (, or ), Paullinia cupana (syn. P. crysan, P. sorbilis), is a climbing plant in the Sapindaceae family, native to the Amazon basin. While guarana features large leaves and clusters of flowers, it is best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a coffee berry. Each fruit contains about one seed, which contains approximately three times more caffeine than coffee beans. Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system, cardiac muscle, as well as the respiratory system.

The guarana fruit's color ranges from orange to red and contains black seeds which are partly covered by white arils. The color contrast when the fruit has been split open has been likened to eyeballs; this has formed the basis of a myth.

History and culture
The word guarana comes from the Portuguese guaraná, which has its origins in the Sateré-Mawé language word warana.

Guarana plays an important role in Tupi and Guaraní Brazilian culture. According to a myth dating back to the Sateré-Maué tribe, guarana's domestication originated with a deity killing a beloved village child. In order to console the villagers, a more benevolent god plucked the left eye from the child and planted it in the forest, resulting in the wild variety of guarana. The god then plucked the right eye from the child and planted it in the village, giving rise to domesticated guarana.

The Guarinís would make this tea by shelling and washing the seeds, followed by pounding them into a fine powder. The powder is kneaded into a dough and then shaped into cylinders. This product is known as guarana bread or Brazilian cocoa, which would be grated and then immersed into hot water along with sugar.

This plant was introduced to western civilization in the 17th century following its discovery by Father Felip Betendorf. By 1958, guarana was commercialized.

Uses
Guarana is used in soft drinks (such as Bawls), where it is sweetened and then carbonated. It is also used in pure form in energy shots such as SuddenRush Guarana. Additionally, it is used as an ingredient in herbal tea and made into capsules. Oftentimes, guarana is marketed as a unique stimulant, distinct from caffeine; this is to take advantage of the fact that not many consumers are aware that caffeine is found in a wide variety of plants.

In general, South America obtains most of its caffeine from guarana.

Beverages
Brazil, which consumes the third-most amount of soft drinks in the world, produces several brands of soft drink from guarana extract. In fact, sales of guarana drinks in Brazil are even greater than that of cola drinks. They claim that the consumption of guarana does not result in jitters associated with the consumption of coffee. However this may be a placebo effect or result from the presence of additional substances.

Other uses
Studies involving guarana show benefits to cognitive function. These studies have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or any similar government agencies. In the United States, guarana holds a GRAS-status, i.e. generally regarded as safe.

The Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics published a study in June 2001 showing an average 11.2 pound weight loss in a group taking a mixture of yerba mate, guarana, and damiana, compared to an average 1 pound loss in a placebo group after 45 days.

Although side-effects of guarana are rare, drugs.com recommends: "when considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous". Drugs.com also advises not to mix guarana with ephedrine.

Effects
A study in Brazil of guarana extract showed an aggregation decrease in rabbit platelets of up to 37% below control values and a decrease of platelet thromboxane formation from arachidonic acid of up to 78% below control values, again in rabbits. It is not known if such  platelet action has any effect in heart attack or ischemic stroke risk reduction. The science is very preliminary and at best 'hypothesis generating' and needs to be expanded in order to show actual clinical benefit in humans, if any.

A 1997 study of guarana's effects on the physical activity of rats showed increased memory retention and physical endurance when compared with a placebo.

Other studies have shown antioxidant, antibacterial, and fat cell reduction (when combined with conjugated linoleic acid) properties in guarana.

Composition
These are the chemicals that are found in the guarana plant:

The chemical guaranine is identical to caffeine derived from other sources, for example coffee, tea, and mate. Guaranine, theine, and mateine are all official synonyms for caffeine.