This popular plant has been used for centuries for its impressive properties and proven effects on health. Additionally, this aromatic plant is used as a spice in a variety of dishes and plays a key role in Italian and Thai cuisine. Housewives in Romania also use it to give a special flavor to their meals.
This popular plant contains fenchol
The next time you pick fresh basil from the garden, remember that it is also great for brain health. Basil has been considered a sacred and noble plant, as its name, basil, comes from the ancient Greek word basilikhon, which means royal.
Basil contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. Many of the health benefits of basil are attributed to these antioxidants, as well as its essential oils. Basil and plants that contain terpenes have antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
Recent research shows that fenchol, a natural compound found in basil and other plants, may protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease. Fenchol is a type of terpene or a natural compound that gives the plant its characteristic fragrance. This is why basil smells so good. It is also the reason why basil and plants that contain terpenes have antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.
How can fenchol reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?
In a study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, researchers aimed to better understand the connection between the gut microbiome and the brain. They knew from previous studies that microorganisms living in our digestive tract play a huge role in metabolism, the endocrine system, and immunity. They also knew that these microorganisms release chemical substances that improve brain health.
But is it possible for chemical substances from outside the body to also improve brain health? Starting from this question, the research team wanted to see if fenchol protects the brain against Alzheimer’s disease.
Fenchol, a natural compound found in basil, reduces neurotoxicity in the brains of patients
Researchers at the University of South Florida discovered a detection mechanism associated with the gut microbiome that explains how fenchol, a natural compound found in basil, reduces neurotoxicity in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
Emerging evidence indicates that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—metabolites produced by beneficial gut bacteria and a primary source of nutrition for colon cells—contribute to brain health. The abundance of SCFAs is often reduced in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. However, how this decline in SCFAs contributes to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease was largely unknown.
SCFAs travel through the blood to the brain. Once there, they activate a detection mechanism in brain cells. As the study discovered, this activation helps the brain begin to eliminate any abnormal accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ), which is the main ingredient in the harmful brain plaques that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
This popular plant containing fenchol destroys zombie cells
The research team narrowed their observation area from 15 candidate compounds to just one: fenchol, a plant-derived compound that gives basil its special aroma, which bound best to the active site of FFAR to stimulate signaling.
Fenchol did something extraordinary. Upon closer examination, researchers found that this plant compound reduced senescent neuronal cells, or cells that stop dividing but do not die. Therefore, they continue to release chemical substances that trigger inflammation. Inflammation can spread and damage neighboring cells. For this reason, scientists refer to them as zombie cells. Alzheimer’s patients often have these zombie cells in their brains.
The authors stated that they cannot determine if fresh basil is equally effective. They also have not yet established the exact dose of fenchol that would most benefit the brain.
