http://mindhacks.com/2007/09/27/ambushing-brain-damage/ Neuroscience and psychology news and views. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:51:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://mindhacks.com/2007/09/27/ambushing-brain-damage/#comment-19006 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:42:27 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/ambushing-brain-damage/#comment-19006 The spice Rosemary contains carnosic acid which is also a pathologically activated therapeutic (PAT)substance.
http://www.sciencedaily.com:80/releases/2007/10/071030102210.htm
The active ingredient in rosemary, known as carnosic acid (CA), can protect the brain from stroke and neurodegeneration that is due to injurious chemical free radicals. These radicals are thought to contribute not only to stroke and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, but also to the ill effects of normal aging on the brain.
In two expedited publications by The Journal of Neurochemistry and Nature Reviews Neuroscience, the scientists report for the first time that CA activates a novel signaling pathway that protects brain cells from the ravages of free radicals. In animal models, the scientific group, led by Drs. Takumi Satoh (Iwate University, Japan) and Stuart Lipton (Burnham Institute), found that CA becomes activated by the free radical damage itself, remaining innocuous unless needed, exactly what is wanted in a drug.
The scientists call this type of action a “pathological-activated therapeutic” or PAT drug. A “pat” represents a gentle tap and not the heavy sledge hammer that some drugs produce, including significant side effects in areas of the body where their effects are not needed and not wanted.
“This new type of drug works through a mechanism known as redox chemistry in which electrons are transferred from one molecule to another in order to activate the body’s own defense system,” said Stuart A. Lipton, MD, PhD, the senior author on the paper and Director, Professor, and Senior Vice President at the Burnham’s Del E. Webb Neuroscience, Aging, and Stem Cell Research Center.
“Moreover, unlike most new drugs, this type of compound may well be safe and clinically tolerated because it is present in a naturally-occurring herb that is known to get into the brain and has been consumed by people for over a thousand years.” Dr. Lipton is also a practicing neurologist at the University of California, San Diego, and therefore knows first-hand that such drugs are critically needed for care of the aging and neurologically-ill patients.

]]> http://mindhacks.com/2007/09/27/ambushing-brain-damage/#comment-7101 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:35:40 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/ambushing-brain-damage/#comment-7101 This sounds like a really exciting development – thanks for sharing. Cool analogy too.

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