Research News

Ecklonia cava, a brown algae seaweed, is shown to have the ability to protect against neurodegeneration

Anti-Parkinson’s seaweed

Ecklonia cava is a seaweed that may hold the key to Parkinson’s disease prevention.

Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in motor control and cognitive function. As the global population ages, the number of Parkinson's disease patients is rapidly increasing. Parkinson's disease is induced by neuronal damage due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species.

Suppression of reactive oxygen species generation is essential because it is fatal to dopaminergic neurons that manage dopamine neurotransmitters. Currently, only symptomatic treatment is available, so the development of treatment regimens and prevention methods is necessary.

Fortunately, Associate Professor Akiko Kojima-Yuasa of Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology led a research group that has verified the physiological effect of Ecklonia cava polyphenols, seaweed antioxidants, on the prevention of Parkinson’s disease.

In this study, two types of motor function tests were conducted using Parkinson’s disease model mice that were orally fed the antioxidants daily for one week and then administered rotenone. Results showed that motor function, which was decreased by rotenone, was restored. There was also improvement in intestinal motor function and the colon mucosa structure, a special tissue that covers the colon.

Further, cellular experiments using Parkinson’s disease model cells verified the biochemical interaction of the preventive effect of Ecklonia cava. Validation results showed that the antioxidants activate the AMPK enzyme (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase), an intracellular energy sensor, and inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species that cause neuronal cell death.

“This study suggests that Ecklonia cava antioxidants may reduce neuronal damage by AMPK activation and inhibiting intracellular reactive oxygen species production,” stated Professor Kojima-Yuasa. “It is hoped that Ecklonia cava will be an effective ingredient in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease.”

Funding

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI

(Grant Number: 20K11626).

Paper information

Journal: Nutrients
Title: Ecklonia cava Polyphenols Have a Preventive Effect on Parkinson’s Disease through the Activation of the Nrf2-ARE Pathway
DOI: 10.3390/nu16132076
Authors: Yuri Yasuda, Tamaki Tokumatsu, Chiharu Ueda, Manami Sakai, Yutaro Sasaki, Toshio Norikura, Isao Matsui-Yuasa, and Akiko Kojima-Yuasa
Published: 28 June 2024
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132076

Contact

Akiko Kojima-Yuasa

Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology,
Email: kojima-yuasa[at]omu.ac.jp

*Please change [at] to @.