Methysticin improves cognitive deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, or Methysticin acts as a neuroprotectant. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28448946/)
We’ve covered in the past what oxidative stress does to cells. Oxidative stress in this context is bad, and leads to cell death. Here we have a paper regarding methysticin, and how it affects and reduces neuroinflammation, as well as protects from oxidative damage and memory loss in mouse models of AD (Alzheimer’s Disease). Don’t run out and buy the kava with the most methysticin because of this post. In most of these journals pure kavalactone sources were used. This is a far cry from what we find in the standard kava that we drink.
What is the Nrf2 antioxidant response?
Nrf2 is a protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation [1]. NRF2 lies at the center of a complex regulatory network and performs vital roles in the regulation of metabolism, inflammation, autophagy, proteostasis, mitochondrial physiology, and immune responses [2]. Nrf2 is ubiquitously expressed with the highest concentrations (in descending order) in the kidney, muscle, lung, heart, liver, and brain [3]. In short, The Nrf2 pathway is the system the body turns on when it wants to make its “in-house antioxidants” [4]. When Nrf2 is activated it results in the production of many protective proteins, including glutathione. From our previous “facts of the day” we’ve discovered glutathione as the protective molecule that prevents cell death.
The present study demonstrates that methysticin, a natural occurring kavalactone, activates this protein which causes a marked increase in Nfr2 activity in the hippocampus and cortex [5]. Admittedly this paper goes above my head, however it suggests that methysticin can possibly reduce memory loss and other issues related to neurodegenerative disease.
[1] Gold R, Kappos L, Arnold DL, Bar-Or A, Giovannoni G, Selmaj K, et al. (September 2012). "Placebo-controlled phase 3 study of oral BG-12 for relapsing multiple sclerosis". The New England Journal of Medicine. 367 (12): 1098–107. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1114287. hdl:2078.1/124401. PMID 22992073.
[2] He F, Ru X, Wen T (January 2020). "NRF2, a Transcription Factor for Stress Response and Beyond". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21 (13): 4777. doi:10.3390/ijms21134777. PMC 7369905. PMID 32640524.
[3]Moi P, Chan K, Asunis I, Cao A, Kan YW (October 1994). "Isolation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a NF-E2-like basic leucine zipper transcriptional activator that binds to the tandem NF-E2/AP1 repeat of the beta-globin locus control region". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 91 (21): 9926–30. Bibcode:1994PNAS...91.9926M. doi:10.1073/pnas.91.21.9926. PMC 44930. PMID 7937919.
[4] https://www.mygenefood.com/blog/activating-nrf2-pathway-nutrition-need-know/
[5] Fragoulis A, Siegl S, Fendt M, Jansen S, Soppa U, Brandenburg LO, Pufe T, Weis J, Wruck CJ. Oral administration of methysticin improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Redox Biol. 2017 Aug;12:843-853. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.04.024. Epub 2017 Apr 19. PMID: 28448946; PMCID: PMC5406548.
We’ve covered in the past what oxidative stress does to cells. Oxidative stress in this context is bad, and leads to cell death. Here we have a paper regarding methysticin, and how it affects and reduces neuroinflammation, as well as protects from oxidative damage and memory loss in mouse models of AD (Alzheimer’s Disease). Don’t run out and buy the kava with the most methysticin because of this post. In most of these journals pure kavalactone sources were used. This is a far cry from what we find in the standard kava that we drink.
What is the Nrf2 antioxidant response?
Nrf2 is a protein that regulates the expression of antioxidant proteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation [1]. NRF2 lies at the center of a complex regulatory network and performs vital roles in the regulation of metabolism, inflammation, autophagy, proteostasis, mitochondrial physiology, and immune responses [2]. Nrf2 is ubiquitously expressed with the highest concentrations (in descending order) in the kidney, muscle, lung, heart, liver, and brain [3]. In short, The Nrf2 pathway is the system the body turns on when it wants to make its “in-house antioxidants” [4]. When Nrf2 is activated it results in the production of many protective proteins, including glutathione. From our previous “facts of the day” we’ve discovered glutathione as the protective molecule that prevents cell death.
The present study demonstrates that methysticin, a natural occurring kavalactone, activates this protein which causes a marked increase in Nfr2 activity in the hippocampus and cortex [5]. Admittedly this paper goes above my head, however it suggests that methysticin can possibly reduce memory loss and other issues related to neurodegenerative disease.
[1] Gold R, Kappos L, Arnold DL, Bar-Or A, Giovannoni G, Selmaj K, et al. (September 2012). "Placebo-controlled phase 3 study of oral BG-12 for relapsing multiple sclerosis". The New England Journal of Medicine. 367 (12): 1098–107. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1114287. hdl:2078.1/124401. PMID 22992073.
[2] He F, Ru X, Wen T (January 2020). "NRF2, a Transcription Factor for Stress Response and Beyond". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21 (13): 4777. doi:10.3390/ijms21134777. PMC 7369905. PMID 32640524.
[3]Moi P, Chan K, Asunis I, Cao A, Kan YW (October 1994). "Isolation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a NF-E2-like basic leucine zipper transcriptional activator that binds to the tandem NF-E2/AP1 repeat of the beta-globin locus control region". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 91 (21): 9926–30. Bibcode:1994PNAS...91.9926M. doi:10.1073/pnas.91.21.9926. PMC 44930. PMID 7937919.
[4] https://www.mygenefood.com/blog/activating-nrf2-pathway-nutrition-need-know/
[5] Fragoulis A, Siegl S, Fendt M, Jansen S, Soppa U, Brandenburg LO, Pufe T, Weis J, Wruck CJ. Oral administration of methysticin improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Redox Biol. 2017 Aug;12:843-853. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2017.04.024. Epub 2017 Apr 19. PMID: 28448946; PMCID: PMC5406548.
