Herbal Alfalfa, the Neuroprotective Natural Whole Food

Alfalfa is found to express neuroprotective effects against acute and progressive neurodegenerative disorders.

Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the genus Medicago, belonging to the family Fabaceae, cultivated all over the world as hay for cattle feeding, and used in traditional medicine over thousands of year to treat high cholesterol, asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, enhance digestive system, bleeding disorder, kidney and urinary tract infection, etc. North Americal aboriginal has used Alfalfa seed as food, such as making bread and mush.

Neuroprotection is the action to preserve the neuronal structure and/or function of the brain, particularly in the delay of neurodegenerative diseases and enhanced integrity of neurons.

According to the L.R. Institute of Pharmacy, methanol extract of Medicago sativa (MS) induced neuroprotective effect through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities against ischemia and reperfusion-induced cerebral injury in mice as free radicals expression are elevated with deletion of antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total tissue sulfhydryl (T-SH) groups.

Indeed, mice treated with Medicago sativa (MS) exhibited significantly scavenged free radicals activity against a stable radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and O(•-) (2) and also inhibited XD/XO conversion and resultant O(•-) (2) production.


Dr. Bora KS, the lead researchers said, " treatment with MS enhances the antioxidant defense against BCAO-induced global cerebral ischemia and exhibits neuroprotective activity".

Furthermore, in the review of 117 references compiled from major databases as Chemical Abstracts, Science Direct, SciFinder, PubMed, Dr. Dukes Phytochemical and Ethnobotany, CIMER, and InteliHealth, M. sativa seems to hold great potential for various biological activities, including heart disease and neuroprotective effects, attributed to some major classes of phytoconstituents, including
saponins, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, coumarins, alkaloids, amino acids, phytosterols, vitamins, digestive enzymes, and terpenes.

With all the available scientific literature indicated above, alfalfa may attract the attention of natural product researchers to focus on the unexplored therapeutic potential of M. sativa, particular in the neuroprotective area.



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Sources
(1) Evaluation of Antioxidant and Cerebroprotective Effect of Medicago sativa Linn. against Ischemia and Reperfusion Insult by Bora KS1, Sharma A.(PubMed)
(2) Phytochemical and pharmacological potential of Medicago sativa: a review by Bora KS1, Sharma A.(PubMed)