Researchers at the University of Cologne have discovered that Kunisin, derived from the medicinal plant blessed thistle, significantly promotes nerve regeneration and could represent a new treatment for nerve damage that can be taken orally.Credit: Dietmar Fischer
Milk thistle (Cnicus benedictus), a member of the Asteraceae family, grows well in our climate. This plant has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries and is often consumed as an extract or tea to support the digestive system. Recently, researchers led by Dr. Philipp Gobrecht and Professor Dietmar Fischer from the Cologne University Hospital Pharmacology Center and Cologne University Medical School have discovered a completely new use for its active ingredient, sinisin.
Animal models and human cells show that sinisin significantly promotes axon (nerve fiber) growth.The study was published in the journal plant medicine.
quickly help the nerves
The regeneration path of injured nerves in humans and animals with long axons is correspondingly long. This prolongs the healing process and is often irreversible as the axons are unable to reach their destination on time.
Therefore, accelerating the regenerative growth rate can make a big difference here, ensuring that the fibers reach their original destination on time before irreparable functional defects occur. The researchers demonstrated axon regeneration in animal models and in human cells taken from retinas donated by patients. When mice or rats were given daily doses of sinisin, paralysis and neuropathy improved more quickly.
Compared to other compounds, sinisin has one important advantage. It can be introduced orally (orally) into the bloodstream. It does not need to be administered by injection. “Sinisin only works within a specific therapeutic range, so the correct dose is critical here. Too low or too high a dose will have no effect. This is why further clinical studies in humans are important. “,” Fisher said. Researchers at the University of Cologne are currently planning a related study. The Pharmacology Center researches and develops drugs to repair damaged nervous systems.
Reference: “Shinishin promotes functional nerve regeneration” by Philipp Gobrecht, Janet Gebel, Marco Leibinger, Charlotte Zeitler, Zhendong Chen, Dirk Grundemann, Dietmar Fischer, April 14, 2024 , plant medicine.
DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155641
The current research has received funding of approximately 1,200,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the PARREGERON project.
