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Ivy is known to be a rather attractive garden invader or indoor plant that is prone to triggering allergic reactions or irritation. Now, for the first time, scientists have discovered that it is extremely effective at blocking pain signals.
Scientists at the University of Leipzig in Germany have made an “important breakthrough” in discovering safe new treatments for pain reliefwhen experimenting with extracts of hera (Ivy helix).
This plant, easily identified by its leaves, has long been considered a holistic way to treat inflammation and respiratory problems, and is available in refined medicinal form.
In the laboratory, scientists tested thousands of substances with pain relief potential and discovered that one of the triterpenoidespresent in ivy leaves, binds to the receptor that regulates pain in the human body.
Triterpenoids – found in plants, fungi, animals and sedimentary rocks – are organic compounds known to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
This one in particular, hederagenhas an effective way of blocking the activity of the neuropeptide FF receptor 1 (NPFFR1). This receptor protein is most commonly found in the spine and brain, and regulates pain signals and perception.
According to , when hederagenin binds to the receptor, silences the signaling pathway to communicate pain messages to the brain. As such, it has great potential as a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain.
The team emphasizes that because NPFFR1 has many similar receptors, the fact that hederagenin is specifically attracted to its properties makes this discovery a major step forward in pain research.
The advances were published in Applied Chemistry International Edition.
