Substances found in apple peels and herbal leaves have been shown to improve learning and memory abilities impaired by brain inflammation and protect nerve cells.
The Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) announced on October 29 that a research team led by Dr. Kwon Hee-seok and Dr. Choi Ga-young at the Ochang Bio and Environmental Research Institute confirmed the effects of ursolic acid on improving learning and memory abilities and protecting nerve cells in mice induced with brain inflammation.
Ursolic acid is a natural substance found in apple peels and some plants, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that reduce inflammatory responses and cellular damage. However, the specific mechanisms by which ursolic acid protects nerve cells and affects learning and memory abilities during brain inflammation have not been fully elucidated.
After administering ursolic acid to mice with induced brain inflammation and cognitive decline, the research team observed improvements in the ability to remember specific locations and distinguish between new and familiar objects. They confirmed changes in learning and memory abilities through behavioral experiments and also analyzed brain tissue and nerve cell functions.
The brain contains microglia, immune cells that respond to external stimuli or damage. When these cells become overly activated, the inflammatory response can intensify, potentially damaging surrounding nerve cells.
In the brains of mice treated with ursolic acid, excessive inflammatory responses from immune cells were reduced. The research team explained that after administering ursolic acid, the excessive activation of these immune cells was alleviated, and levels of inflammatory substances and cellular damage decreased.
The increase in reactive oxygen species, which can damage cells, was also mitigated. Reactive oxygen species are produced during normal cellular activities, but excessive amounts can harm cellular components.
In this experiment, the function of antioxidant enzymes that manage reactive oxygen species was restored, and the signaling functions between nerve cells necessary for learning and memory were improved.
The research team also observed the fine structure of nerve cells using electron microscopy. Synapses, the connection points where nerve cells communicate, play a crucial role in forming learning and memory.
Mice treated with ursolic acid showed relatively well-preserved synaptic structures, and abnormalities in the shape of mitochondria, which supply energy to cells, were reduced. The research team confirmed that in the group treated with ursolic acid, changes such as fragmentation or abnormal connections of mitochondria were alleviated.
This study is significant as it demonstrated that ursolic acid improves learning and memory abilities in mice while reducing brain inflammation and oxidative damage, and protects the structure and function of nerve cells.
However, it has not yet been proven whether it can improve memory or prevent and treat dementia in humans. Further research is needed to determine whether similar effects occur in humans, as well as to assess safety and appropriate dosage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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