Zylaria from NuLiv Sciences demonstrates neuroprotective and GABA-releasing properties in recent study

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A recent study¹ published in the Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology investigated three different compositions containing Xylaria nigripes extract (XE) on γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, GABA transaminase (GABA-T), Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), cells viability, and Amyloid-β protein (Aβ) aggregation levels in PC12 neuron cells. PC12 cells synthesize, store, and release norepinephrine and dopamine. Xylaria nigripes is a fungi, also known as Wu Ling Shen, that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the support of mood and anxiety. In the study, XE was given alone, in combination with Panax notoginseng extract (XPE), or in combination with Panax notoginseng and Cuscuta chinensis extract (XPCE). The investigative material was provided by NuLiv Sciences USA Inc (Brea, CA), which manufactures Zylaria, composed of the XPCE combination used in the study.

The three compositions were administered at different doses (40, 60, 80, and 120 μg/mL) and all the experiments were done in triplicate. Results showed that all three compositions significantly improved GABA production, increased the activity of glutamate GAD, and decreased GABA-T activity in PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner. All three compositions showed potent neuroprotective properties via increasing PC12 cell viability as well as significantly attenuating the Aβ-induced injury and Aβ aggregation in a dose-dependent fashion. Out of the three compositions, however, XPCE showed the best holistic neuroprotective and GABA releasing properties compared to XE and XPE.

Reference

1. Huang SF et al. “Effect of Xylaria nigripes, Panax notoginseng, Cuscuta chinensis on GABA, GABA transaminase, glutamate decarboxylase, amyloid beta, and amyloid beta aggregation levels in PC12 neuron cells.” Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, vol. 5, no. 5 (2022)