Using coffee grounds for nerve treatments

Using coffee grounds for nerve treatments

There is a growing interest in reusing “coffee grounds” for multiple purposes, such as creating new sustainable materials, especially since estimates indicate that about six million tons of coffee waste are disposed of every year, much of which is thrown into landfills, according to what was published by the New website. Atlas cited in Environmental Research.

Researchers from the University of Texas El Paso ventured down a completely different path, deriving carbon quantum dots (CACQD) from the base, which could have the ability to protect brain cells from microbiological attacks that could lay the foundations for neurodegenerative disease.

For his part, lead researcher Jyotish Kumar said: “Caffeic acid-based carbon quantum dots have the potential to be transformative in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.”

Treatment without negative effects

In cell samples, researchers discovered that CACQD scavenges or blocks free radicals and prevents the accumulation of amyloid-forming proteins.

Most importantly, there do not appear to be any negative effects on the cells. Therefore, if the results of the study can be used to find a preventive treatment, it may be possible to stop the disease from developing before the clinical stages.

At a cost that suits the majority of patients

“It is important to treat these disorders before they reach the clinical stage,” said Mahesh Narayan, a professor at the University of Texas, explaining that the goal of the study is to find a solution that can help treat conditions at a manageable cost for the largest possible number of patients.

Caffeic acid

Caffeic acid is a polyphenol compound, known for its antioxidant properties, that can also penetrate the all-important blood-brain barrier, which is essential for providing cellular protection to the very site that requires it.

As well as being a sustainable source of caffeic acid, CACQD is produced via environmentally friendly “green chemistry”. The ground coffee is “cooked” at 93°C for four hours, in order to repurpose it into the caffeic acid carbon skeleton of CACQD. Given the amount of coffee waste that is disposed of annually, the source material offers sustainability and scalability.

The second of its kind

Although it is still early days, the team of researchers hopes that further research will confirm early testing, and that one day, something as simple as “coffee grounds” could provide the human brain with an invisible shield to protect against non-genetic neurodegenerative diseases.

The study is the second of its kind in recent months, which finds a surprising benefit for brain health from coffee products. In September, Japanese researchers identified a compound found in green coffee beans, called tragonelin, that shows promising results in helping maintain memory and cognitive function in aging brains.

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