Researchers from the University of Cologne have found a new use for Cnicin, a substance produced in Blessed Thistle.
Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), a member of the Asteraceae family, has been used historically to support digestion, often in extract or tea form.
Now, researchers from the University of Cologne’s Center for Pharmacology have uncovered a new potential use for Cnicin, a compound within the plant, to enhance nerve fiber regeneration significantly.
In studies involving animal models and human cells, Cnicin was shown to accelerate axon growth, aiding in quicker recovery from nerve damage.
Unlike other compounds, Cnicin can be taken orally, making it more accessible. The team, led by Dr. Philipp Gobrecht and Prof. Dr. Dietmar Fischer, emphasizes the importance of precise dosing and is preparing for further human trials. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with a grant of approximately 1.2 million euros.
Benefits in Nerve Regeneration
Regeneration pathways of injured nerves in humans and animals with long axons are quite long.
This often makes the healing process lengthy and even frequently irreversible because the axons cannot reach their destination on time.
An accelerated regeneration growth rate can, therefore, make a big difference here, ensuring that the fibres reach their original destination on time before irreparable functional deficits can occur.
The researchers demonstrated axon regeneration in animal models and human cells taken from retinae donated by patients.
Administering a daily dose of Cnicin from Blessed Thistle, to mice or rats helped improve paralysis and neuropathy much more quickly.
“The correct dose is very important here, as Cnicin only works within a specific therapeutic window. Doses that are too low or too high are ineffective. This is why further clinical studies on humans are crucial,” said Fischer.
The current study received funding of around 1,200,000 euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the project PARREGERON.
Original Publication can be Accessed Here:
Journal Reference:
- Philipp Gobrecht, Jeannette Gebel, Marco Leibinger, Charlotte Zeitler, Zhendong Chen, Dirk Gründemann, Dietmar Fischer. Cnicin promotes functional nerve regeneration. Phytomedicine, 2024; 155641 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155641
