The science: putting something in your
mouth activates areas of the brain that respond to
gustatory (taste) stimulation and act with an appropriate emotional, cognitive and behavioural response.
First and foremost, amarogentin, a monoterpene, has antibacterial and antifungal attributes, and is also mainly responsible for the plant's highly bitter taste that stimulates the
gustatory nerves in the
mouth, increasing saliva production and appetite.