NeuroAiD II MLC 901 Mechanism of Action

Pharmacologic class: Traditionally-used Herbal Product.
Pharmacology: Mechanism of action: In-vitro pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that NeuroAiD prevents neuronal death in a model of excitotoxicity using primary cultures of cortical neurons exposed to glutamate. Furthermore, NeuroAiD treatments were shown to induce neurogenesis in rodent and human cells, promote cell proliferation as well as neurite outgrowth and stimulate the development of a dense axonal and dendritic network. In-vivo studies in a rodent model of focal ischemia on both NeuroAiD, and its simplified sister formulation (MLC 901), demonstrates that treatment improves survival, protects the brain from ischemic injury and drastically decreases functional deficits. One possible mechanism of NeuroAiD includes its ability to stimulate BDNF secretion, which regulates neuronal survival and protects neurons from glutamate-induced damage. BDNF has multiple effects on sustaining and evoking elements of brain plasticity, including neurite outgrowth and differentiation, and is also associated with recruitment of new neurons and reduction in infarct size and secondary neuronal death. All these data suggest that BDNF may play a significant role in the many beneficial effects of NeuroAiD. In addition, Radix astragali, a major component of NeuroAiD, has been reported to scavenge active oxidants, and regulate the expression of cytokines such as TNF a, IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6 as well as the production of nitric oxide (NO), which are all involved in the pathophysiology of stroke.
Pharmacokinetics: NeuroAid originated from Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM), which are derived from a combination of herb and non-herb components. These herb/non-herb, singularly and in combination, contain a myriad of compounds which are not always well defined. Often the specific active constituents are not easily identified, nor can their biological activity be well characterised. Moreover, in the practice of TCM, often no single active constituent is responsible for the overall efficacy. Hence, it is acknowledged by regulatory authorities worldwide that pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies may not be feasible.