Emory University scientists found that the compound, known as gambogic amide, behaves much like nerve growth factor (NGF), a molecule found in the brain. NGF binds to TrkA, a neuronal receptor, and activates neuronal signaling.
Neuronal cell signaling plays a crucial role in the growth, plasticity and survival of brain cells, and the loss of TrkA density correlates with neuronal atrophy and severe cognitive impairment such as that associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Because gambogic amide also binds to TrKA and activates neuronal signaling, the researchers believe it may have potential as a therapeutic treatment in people affected by neurodegenerative disease, such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and peripheral diabetic neuropathies.
Gambogic amide is derived from gambogic acid, a major ingredient of gamboges, a brownish-orange resin exuded from the Southeast Asian Garcinia hanburryi tree. The resin has been used in that area of the world for thousands of years to treat cancers without any reported toxicity to noncancerous cells. The researchers are now conducting further preclinical research to investigate how the body processes gambogic amide, and to confirm that it is in fact non-toxic.
Results of the study are published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and will be published in a future print edition.