Incorporation of Cod liver oil to Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) gummy candy as a cognitive enhancement supplement

This study aimed to incorporate Cod Liver Oil (CLO) oil in Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) gummy candy and to evaluate its effect on cognitive function in the animal model. Cognitive impairment among children, particularly those identified as slow learners has been a concern for many parents including health authorities and the Federal Government. The current study explored the potency of Gotu kola and CLO combination in improving brain health. The gummy candy formulation was chosen to address children's taste and palatability issues. However, incorporating CLO into the formula might affect the physical properties of the gummy candy. This research uses the simplex lattice design (SLD) to determine the optimum proportion of cod liver oil and gelatine that produce good gummy physical characteristics. The physical characteristics of the gummies that have been evaluated include Moisture Content, Weight Uniformity, pH, and Elasticity. The studies also employed a texture analyzer to determine the gummy texture. Hedonic tests were performed to confirm the physical properties data. Pharmacological evaluation of the active ingredients included antioxidant activity tests using the DPPH assay, and cognitive tests using T-Maze assay. These studies suggested that a combination of 10 gelatine and 5 cod live oil produced the most acceptable physical characteristics. The addition of cod liver oil improved the antioxidant activity of Gotu kola. The optimum formula containing 4 grams of CLO and 4 grams of Gotu kola extract showed a strong antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 32.53 µg/ml. In the mouse memory test, administering 7 grams of CLO in Gotu kola extract gave a significant reduction in the time required to find food in the T-maze test. These studies suggest that fish oil can be incorporated into a gummy candy with acceptable physical properties to enhance memory.