Study indicates positive effects of native plants in Alzheimer’s treatment

Camila Bauer, Journalist UTalca.- An early study showed favorable effects of three native plants from the Chilean highlands, which would eventually decrease the activity of an enzyme associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The research, developed by academics from the universities of Talca, Autónoma and Andrés Bello, would give the first indications of how Muña, Chinchircoma and Soyko, would have benefits to prevent and treat this neurodegenerative disease.

“In the study, three plants from the northern part of the country were taken, some ethanol extracts were prepared and from them an attempt was made to characterize their chemical components and evaluate their biological activity, focused mainly on inhibiting a couple of related enzymes. directly with Alzheimer’s disease, which are the enzyme acetyl and butyl cholinesterase.” explained the researcher at the Institute of Natural Resources Chemistry UTalca and co-author of the work, Margarita Gutiérrez Cabrera.

“The extracts showed potential, therefore, it is interesting to be able to study them a little more, try to isolate the major components that are present and evaluate if these compounds, when we have them isolated, show the same activity,” he explained.

The research, recently published in the scientific journal Plants, seeks to establish new benefits of these species, which are already popularly used as infusions for the treatment of stomach problems, inflammatory symptoms and other ailments.

According to Gutiérrez, “the interest in studying these plants is mainly to look for an added value that they may have.” However, he explained that one must be cautious and try to preserve them. “Normally when these plants are used in traditional medicine or for research, in many cases samples are taken and it can go as far as exterminating the species,” he warned.

A second stage of the study would seek to determine if the consumption of the extracts of these plants would have effects on any other type of important physiological process. “What would come next would be to be able, initially, to try to isolate these compounds and see if they maintain the same activity, if they improve it, and also evaluate if these compounds are cytotoxic”, indicated the professor utalina.