Research on the potential of medicinal plants to treat Alzheimer's disease
Research on the potential of medicinal plants to treat Alzheimer's disease
Pamplona will host from October 21 to 23 the VI National congress of the Spanish Society of Phytotherapy.
University of Navarra researchers Maribel Calvo and Rita Yolanda Cavero are working on the search for new compounds of natural origin obtained from traditionally used medicinal plants, such as lemon balm, rosemary and lavender, which may serve as new treatments against Alzheimer's disease.
This work, which has been developed for 10 years in the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, and Plant Biology of the Schools of Pharmacy and Sciences of the academic center, will be one of the protagonists of the VI National congress of the Spanish Society of Phytotherapy, which will take place at the University of Navarra from 21 to 23 October.
In this study, the researchers selected 50 medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine, both in Navarra and in neighboring communities. In fact," explains Rita Yolanda Cavero, "the medicinal plants that have given the best results are common throughout the Mediterranean region, where they have been used for centuries for different conditions. This fact has also allowed us to know that they are safe plants, with a more than ample time of use".
Among all the plants analyzed, the specialists chose three from group of the aromatic plants: "Lavender, lemon balm and oregano were the ones that gave the best potential results in programs of study in vitro". "Also", continues Maribel Calvo, "all three were traditionally used for problems in the nervous system, which could be connected with their efficacy as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease".
The molecules derived from these plants would also have lower toxicity than those used in therapeutics, most of them from group of the alkaloids, which would be a great improvement over existing treatments.
Regarding the other uses of these plants, lavender has been a resource against ailments of the respiratory system, chest colds or rheumatic problems. Oregano, for its part, has been used against damage to the digestive and respiratory system, and lemon balm was traditionally associated with dysfunctions of the endocrine system and, above all, the nervous system.
Fibromyalgia, cancer or goji berries
The VI National congress of the Spanish Society of Phytotherapy will count with the participation of national and international experts, among them Salvador Cañigueral, president of the Spanish Society of Phytotherapy; José Elizalde, mycotoxicologist of the Hospital Complex of Navarra; or Rosa María Giner, of the department of Pharmacology of the University of Valencia, who will speak about the real efficacy of goji berries. Topics such as the role of phytotherapy in fibromyalgia or cancer will also be addressed.
Also, from October 20 to 21, a course on protocols for action in Phytotherapy will be held for pharmacists and specialists who work with medicinal plants, which will include a practical workshop, information on interactions between drugs, medicinal plants and food, etc.