Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University.
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2024;70(1):61-71. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.70.61.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that plays fundamental roles in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. Its upregulation in the brain can effectively prevent and treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including depression, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). BDNF is synthesized in various peripheral tissues as well as in the brain and can be transported from peripheral circulation into the brain through the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, foods that upregulate BDNF in peripheral tissues may be beneficial in preventing and treating these CNS diseases. Previously, we revealed that treatment with Chinpi (Citrus unshiu peel) and Citrus natsudaidai increased BDNF levels in the human renal adenocarcinoma cell line ACHN. Here, we evaluated the effects of 21 citrus cultivars on BDNF production in ACHN cells by measuring BDNF levels in the cell culture medium. We found that treatment with peels and pulps of 13 citrus varieties increased BDNF levels in ACHN cells. Treatment with Aurantium, Acrumen, and their hybrids citrus varieties showed a potent BDNF-upregulating effect but not with varieties belonging to Limonellus, Citrophorum, and Cephalocitrus. In addition, treatment with some of those Acrumen and its hybrid citrus species resulted in elevated levels of BDNF transcripts in ACHN cells. These results suggest that peels of many citrus cultivars contain ingredients with a potential BDNF-upregulating ability, which may be novel drug seeds for treating depression, AD, and PD. Furthermore, many citrus cultivars could be used as BDNF-upregulating foods.
脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）是一种神经营养因子，在神经元存活和突触可塑性中起着至关重要的作用。其在大脑中的上调可以有效地预防和治疗中枢神经系统（CNS）疾病，包括抑郁症、阿尔茨海默病（AD）和帕金森病（PD）。BDNF 不仅在大脑中合成，还在各种外周组织中合成，并可以通过血脑屏障从外周循环进入大脑。因此，能够上调外周组织中 BDNF 的食物可能有益于预防和治疗这些 CNS 疾病。之前，我们发现服用陈皮（Citrus unshiu 果皮）和橘柚（Citrus natsudaidai）可提高人肾腺癌细胞系 ACHN 中的 BDNF 水平。在这里，我们通过测量 ACHN 细胞培养基中的 BDNF 水平，评估了 21 种柑橘品种对 ACHN 细胞中 BDNF 产生的影响。我们发现，13 种柑橘品种的果皮和果肉处理均可提高 ACHN 细胞中的 BDNF 水平。橙皮、香橼及其杂种柑橘品种的处理显示出较强的 BDNF 上调作用，但不属于 Limonellus、Citrophorum 和 Cephalocitrus 的品种则没有。此外，某些香橼及其杂种柑橘品种的处理可使 ACHN 细胞中的 BDNF 转录本水平升高。这些结果表明，许多柑橘品种的果皮含有具有潜在 BDNF 上调能力的成分，可能是治疗抑郁症、AD 和 PD 的新型药物种子。此外，许多柑橘品种可作为 BDNF 上调食品。
