Yerba mate consolidates as a prevention of Parkinson's disease

– Why new research on this topic ?, What are you trying to elucidate?

JF – What we intend to demonstrate – in a simplified model – that the compounds present in yerba mate are able to protect dopaminergic neurons.

When I say "we pretend", I mean the whole team, which is completed by researchers Pedro Ballestero and Alejandra Bernardi, both very unhappy.

– At what stage is the research and when do you think we could count on the results?

JF – The first step of our research is over because we have shown that the yerba mate extract delays the death of dopaminergic neurons in culture.

In addition, we furthered this neuroprotective effect with that of a known antioxidant and evaluated the effect of other substances present in the mate such as caffeine, teobro mine and chlorogenic acid. In this sense, we find that yerba mate extract is better neuroprotective with the three compounds isolated. But also chlorogenic acid, and not caffeine or theobromine, promotes the development of the dendritic tree. The latter is very attractive because it suggests that the effect of the companion exceeds a simple antioxidant effect and triggers intracellular information that promotes the growth of neurons.

These results are sent to an international scientific journal, but at one time we are already working on the later stages of the project, which is to begin to understand the cellular mechanism by which the partner protects dopaminergic neurons in culture and begins to think about how these results can be projected for therapeutic purposes

] – So, to make it clearer, what has been proven, is that the extract from maté has a neuroprotective effect, that is to say that it protects the dopaminergic neurons. If this is the case, it means that the yerba mate extract prevents or delays the deterioration of dopaminergic neurons and thus prevents Parkinson's disease.

JF – The interpretation is correct but it is necessary to be careful because the results obtained in the laboratory (in vitro tests or in culture) must be transposed to more models. complex, such as rodents. Also in the case of people is more complex, because we are talking about different mechanisms of neuronal death, different moments of exposure to the partner, different concentrations that we do not know (we do not know how much "maté" reaches the neurons in the brain) and variables between one or the other taker. There are many other variables that make what you see in the lab can be different than what happens in a patient 's brain.

However, we must consider our results as "something more". to be beneficial against Parkinson's disease. That is to say add this to the antioxidant capacity of the partner and to the demographics published by the researcher Emilia Gatto 2 years ago.

Science is based on the accumulation of evidence, preferably by different methods and actors, and we are now contributing very strong evidence. (Source: INYM)

Read also: Award-winning researcher studying the effect of yerba mate on bones