Eating herbs good for brain
Thyme or parsley just don’t boost flavor of the meal but could boost your brain power.
A new research by lead author Stevens Rehen, and colleagues of the D’Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), reveals how a substance present in such herbs – apigenin – triggers formation of human brain cells and boosts connections between them. The research was published in the journal Advances in Regenerative Biology.
Apigenin belongs to the flavonoid group and is also found in red pepper, chamomile and many other plants and herbs and shows promise as a treatment for numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
Substances from the flavonoid group such as apigenin benefit memory and learning, and have the potential to preserve and boost brain function.
In the lab, the research team applied apigenin to human stem cells (human tem cells are cells that have the ability to develop into different cell types in a laboratory dish) and found that after 25 days these stem cells transformed into neurons, an effect that was not sen in the absence of apigenin.
The researchers found that the connections that developed between the newly formed neurons – known as synapses – were stronger and more sophisticated. “Strong connections between neurons are crucial for good brain function, memory consolidation and learning,” notes Rehen.
The research also found that apigenin boosts neuron formation and connections by binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), which influences the development, progression, function and plasticity of the nervous system.
While studies have shown the hormone estrogen may delay development of Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, depression and Parkinson’s, among other neurodegenerative conditions, Rehen and colleagues note the use of estrogen therapy is hampered by the risks of tumor growth and cardiovascular problems it poses.
However, the team says their findings suggest apigenin could offer a promising future treatment alternative for a number of neurodegenerative disorders.
“An alternative approach would be to mimic estrogenic-mediated positive effects by modulating specific ERs with other estrogenic compounds, such as some flavonoids classified as selective ER modulators (SERMs),” they explain.
In addition, Rehen says their study suggests the possibility of a simple brain-boosting strategy we can all adopt:
“[…] Flavonoids are present at high amounts in some foods and we can speculate that a diet rich in flavonoids may influence the formation of neurons and the way they communicate within the brain.”
Last year, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting some further benefits of plant-derived compounds; researchers discovered compounds present in herbs such as rosemary and oregano may help fight type 2 diabetes.
