Indian tobacco compound could prevent Alzheimer’s, reveals Kerala scientists’ study

Thrissur: A group of scientists from the state said their studies have demonstrated that a compound derived from Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) could potentially serve as a preventive measure against Alzheimer’s disease.The collaborative study was conducted by scientists from the Jubilee Centre for Medical Research (JCMR), Thrissur, department of biotechnology and microbiology, Kannur University and the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram. The team included Dr Remya Chandran and Dr Dileep Vijayan from the JCMR; Dr Jayadevi Variyar and Dr Sadasivan from the department of biotechnology and microbiology, Kannur University and and Dr Omkumar, a former RGCB scientist.

The study revealed a promising natural compound named lobeline, extracted from the Indian tobacco genus, with potential applications against Alzheimer’s, said Dr Dileep. Developing drugs for Alzheimer’s is an extremely challenging task due to its complex pathology. Nature is a rich source of bioactive molecules whose proper utilization can provide a cure for many life-threatening diseases, he said.According to him, there is already evidence suggesting that phytochemicals or plant-derived molecules play an important role in protecting human health, and this study has shown that their chronic use is effective in managing complex disease conditions such as Alzheimer’s. The neuroprotective potential of lobeline was assessed against a key pathological event associated with Alzheimer’s, using cultured cortical neurons isolated from embryo rats. Lobeline’s neuroprotection was attributed to its blockade of NMDA receptor activity.With the help of computational biology, it was discovered that structural modifications to lobeline yielded novel chemical compounds with potential applications against Alzheimer’s, Dr Dileep said. He also disclosed that they conducted the studies by purchasing the compound extracted from Indian Tobacco, and not using the plant directly. The findings have been published in international journals like IUBMB Life, (a publication of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and Scientific Reports (Nature portfolio, Springer Nature), he said.Interestingly, botanists said that Indian tobacco is not a native plant of the country and is of North American origin. “We have not seen reports on this plant being seen naturally growing in Kerala,” said Dr Dantas K J from the State Medicinal Plants Board, Kerala.Rajesh K P, associate professor at the department of botany, Zamorins Guruvayurappan College, Kozhikode, said, “Lobelia is known by seven species in Kerala, but Lobelia inflata is not known from Kerala or South India.”
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.