Elucidation of the effect of phenylpropanoid improving brain function by gut-brain interractions

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H02894
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Kobayashi Shoko 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (90348144)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山田 正仁 金沢大学, 医学系, 教授 (80191336)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: アルツハイマー病 / ロスマリン酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There have been many epidemiological studies of polyphenols to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms are not clear. When AD model mice were feed rosmarinic acid (RA), the aggregation of amyloid β(Aβ) decreased. The transcriptomics analysis of these mice brain suggested that monoamines, which inhibit Aβ aggregation, were increased in a brain. Measuring by HPLC analysis was evidence of RA feed mice increased monoamines and the decomposition enzymes also decreased. These data suggested that RA intake increases monoamines concentration by reducing enzymes expression, and consequently prevent AD.

Free Research Field

食品機能学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

野菜や果物を多く摂取し、ポリフェノールを多く含む食品を摂取する食習慣がAD発症予防に繋がる可能性が、多くの論文により示されている。しかしこれらについては疫学的な知見が多く、メカニズム等の科学的なエビデンスは少ないのが現状である。本研究は、シソやローズマリーに含まれるポリフェノールの一種、ロスマリン酸を摂取すると、脳内で一部のモノアミン類が濃度上昇し、それらがAβ凝集を抑制するという、新たなメカニズムを見出した。