A new research on a group of plants called Solanaceae, a food that for a while was considered allergenic to some, is now being closely scrutinized as a source of natural nicotine, because of the compound's potential protection against Parkinson's disease.
A study published in the Annals of Neurology details how even eating small amounts of natural nicotine through food could have a significant impact in delaying or reducing the onset of Parkinson's.
Parkinson's is a very widespread disorder, with upward of 1 million Americans afflicted from it. It is a deteriorating, and debilitating disorder that slowly interferes not only with motion but ultimately also with cognitive ability.
The idea for the study came when researchers observed that smokers were reducing their risk of getting the disease. However there has not yet a direct connection been made between smoking and the lesser impact of Parkinson's in smokers. Because symptoms occur much after the true onset of the disease, it is hard to establish if the people who are afflicted were not inclined to smoke or never smoked.
The study did however ask its patients to relate whether or not they had ever smoked. In the study those patients that increased their consumption of Solanaceae also saw a decrease in the risk of Parkisons'. And peppers seem to have the clearest link between such reduction and the consumption of the vegetable's fruit. In addition, the reduced risk was highest in those in the group who had never used cigarettes in their lives.
Scientists are yet not sure whether it is the tobacco or another compound found in peppers and tobacco that is offering the protection observed. However, since prior studies have shown that tobacco use did have a similar effect, there is a call to investigate further to se if the consumption of these plants and natural nicotine could offer novel treatments for Parkinson's.
Source : Science Daily. 5.9.13
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