Food for thought: compound in licorice may protect brain

Food for thought: compound in licorice may protect brain cells from Alzheimer's and other diseases

Could natural compounds in plants hold the key to helping prevent or treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and even HIV-related dementia? University of South Carolina (USC) neuroscientist Dr. Rosemarie Booze thinks that's a distinct possibility because a substance found in licorice (also known as liquorice) root may prevent the nerve cell loss in the brain that's associated with those devastating health problems.

Dr. Booze, who's the Bicentennial Chair Professor in Behavorial Neuroscience in the USC College of Arts and Sciences, is isolating liquiritigenin (dubbed LQ by Dr. Booze) from licorice root and testing its effects on brain cells (neurons). LQ is one of several natural phytoestrogens which mimics the hormone estrogen. There are two forms of phytoestrogens that bind to either alpha or beta estrogen receptors (ER) in the human body. Previous research has shown phytoestrogens that target alpha ERs, which are found throughout the body, may prevent breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. But it turns out the licorice compound LQ is a beta ER -- which means it targets cells in the brain. Read more...

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