Vitamin P Could Treat Damaged Motor Neurons

Most of us aren't too familiar with Vitamin P, (possibly because it's not really a vitamin, but a flavonoid) but reports indicate that the molecule 7, 8-Dihydroxyflavone (otherwise known as such) could ensure the survival of motor neurons in culture.

Vitamin P, more correctly called flavonoids or bioflavonoids according to Wise Geek, is a class of substances that are used for many different purposes in plants and are important for human health. It is found in a number of foods and herbs, ranging from red peppers to tea. 

It sends the survival signal on another path than the molecule Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which was previously considered a candidate for the treatment of motorneuron diseases or after spinal cord damage.

"The Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor only had a limited effect when tested on humans, and even had partially negative consequences", Prof. Dr. Stefan Wiese said from the RUB Work Group for Molecular Cell Biology, according to a press release. "Therefore we are looking for alternative ways to find new approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis."

Previous studies have discovered that the vitamin ensures that isolated motor neurons can survive in cell culture and grow new processes. However, what exactly the molecules trigger at the protein level varies, according to a press release. BDNF activates two signalling pathways, the so-called MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT signal paths. Vitamin P on the other hand makes use only of the latter.

Yet the benefits of vitamin P have only recently been exposed and can only been seen in a very small range.

"These results show how important an accurate determination of dose and effect is", said Prof. Wiese. An overdose of vitamin P reduced the survival effect, and over a certain amount, no more positive effects occurred at all. The researchers hope that vitamin P could have less negative side effects than BDNF. "It is easier to use, because vitamin P, in contrast to BDNF, can pass the blood-brain barrier and therefore does not have to be introduced into the cerebral palsy  fluid using pumps like BDNF," Wiese said .