A member of the forget-me-not flower family found to prevent neurodegenerative disorders

( Natural News ) Researchers from Pakistan have found that Nonea micrantha , a plant native to northern Africa and the Iberian Penninsula, contains bioactive compounds that can potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The team arrived at this finding by studying the plant’s ability to inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine — a chemical messenger in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as its antioxidant properties. People with neurodegenerative diseases experience a loss of neurons . As a result, some functions of the body — including moving, talking, and breathing — are impaired. Many people are familiar with some of the conditions that fall under this category (such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, and dementia); however, the exact cause of these diseases remains unclear. For some, a likely suspect in the onset of these conditions is oxidative stress. The condition is usually caused by an imbalance in the number of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. High amounts of free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are harmful, given that the brain heavily relies on oxygen and is full of lipid cells — making it particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress. In addition, those with neurodegenerative disorders have altered levels of acetylcholine , which is essential for brain functions, such as memory, learning, focus, and muscle contraction. For the study, the team obtained a methol extract from N. micrantha , which they further processed to get hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, aqueous, and crude saponin fractions. The derivatives were then examined for its physicochemical properties. The results identified 37 compounds in the plant, and among these were substances with known antioxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-ulcer, and antimicrobial properties. In terms of its anticholinesterase properties, the hexane fraction of N. micrantha exhibited the highest inhibitory activity. Similar results […]

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