Abstract: Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) and L-carntine (LCAR) are nutraceuticals with indications in treating a variety of mental health disorders. A metabolomics-guided bioprocess method is presented to enhance ALCAR and LCAR formation in germinating plant seeds. Metabolic fluxes are manipulated by germination in bioreactors to increase oxygen availability as well as provide an aseptic environment to alter carbohydrate consumption and feedback repress gluconeogenesis. Large shifts in sunflower seed fatty acid, phospholipid and high-energy metabolism change the germination environment and these metabolic changes lead to an approximate 1000-fold increase in natural LCAR and ALCAR production by the seeds. The resulting LCAR and ALCAR products from the seeds are used for treating mental health disorders including Alzheimer's disease, geriatric depression, non-geriatric depression and schizophrenia.

Abstract: Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) and L-carntine (LCAR) are nutraceuticals with indications in treating a variety of mental health disorders. A metabolomics-guided bioprocess method is presented to enhance ALCAR and LCAR formation in germinating plant seeds. Metabolic fluxes are manipulated by germination in bioreactors to increase oxygen availability as well as provide an aseptic environment to alter carbohydrate consumption and feedback repress gluconeogenesis. Large shifts in sunflower seed fatty acid, phospholipid and high-energy metabolism change the germination environment and these metabolic changes lead to an approximate 1000-fold increase in natural LCAR and ALCAR production by the seeds. The resulting LCAR and ALCAR products from the seeds are used for treating mental health disorders including Alzheimer's disease, geriatric depression, non-geriatric depression and schizophrenia.

Abstract: Depression and bi-polar depression are treated with an acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), thereby avoiding unwanted side-effects exhibited by conventional antidepressant agents. ALCAR also helps prevents recurrent episodes of depression and bi-polar depression and both provides beneficial membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate changes in a brain of human subjects with major depressive disorders (MDD).

Abstract: Geriatric depression is treated with L-carnitine or an alkanoyl L-carnitine, desirably acetyl L-carnitine thereby avoiding unwanted side-effects exhibited by conventional antidepressant agents.