# Mechanisms underlying the cognitive effects of Centella asiatica water extract and constituent compounds in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease

> **NIH NIH U19** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $227,945

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY_OVERALL
 Aging- related challenges, including alterations in mood, sleep disturbances and cognitive decline, have
detrimental effects on quality of life for the elderly. Many botanical agents are purported to improve resilience
to these changes, yet few have been evaluated in well-designed clinical trials. An ideal clinical trial would use
a product optimized for its active constituents, and investigate the botanical for appropriate measures of
efficacy in a relevant target population. Sound preclinical research is therefore needed to identify the functional
effects of a botanical, mechanisms underlying these effects, and the phytochemical constituents modulating
these processes. Studies should also identify interactions between different constituents of botanical, in vivo
biomarkers of target engagement by the botanical, distribution of the compounds in the body, and variability of
response in different populations e.g. age or gender groups. The proposed Botanical Dietary Supplement
Research Center (BDSRC) will establish a pipeline of experimental approaches and techniques required to
deliver answers to these critical issues, with a focus on “Botanicals enhancing neurological and functional
resilience in aging”. This research platform will be used to consolidate and expand our extensive preliminary
studies on Centella asiatica (CA; “gotu kola”), in preparation for a clinical trial in aging participants. A second
botanical, Withania somnifera (WS; “ashwagandha”), with compelling reports of similar biological effects to CA
will be examined in earlier stages of the research pipeline. The specific aims of the Center are to (1) to ensure
a reliable supply of CA and WS and develop methods for targeted and untargeted analysis of their
constituents in plant extracts, plasma and brain tissue; (2) to investigate the in vivo effects of CA and currently
known active compounds on cognition, sleep disturbance and mood in mice, and identify in vivo biomarkers
relating to these effects; (3) to explore mechanisms and active compounds of CA and WS extracts through
targeted and untargeted approaches including biochemometric correlations of composition with biological
activity, and metabolomics or transcriptomics of treated target tissues. These goals will be achieved by the
synergistic interaction of a Botanical Core, Research Project 1 examining in vivo effects of CA on cognition,
sleep deprivation and mood and Research Project 2 exploring mechanisms and active compounds of CA and
WS using mouse primary neurons in vitro, mouse brain slices ex vivo and Drosophila melanogaster in vivo. An
Administrative Core will co-ordinate, guide and disseminate the research activities of the BDSRC, and provide
data management and statistical support. It will also coordinate aim (4) which is to provide research training
and career development opportunities to graduate students and postdoctoral scientists. The BDSRC’s pipeline
will, in future, include clinical tria...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10467365
- **Project number:** 3U19AT010829-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Amala Soumyanath
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $227,945
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10467365

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10467365, Mechanisms underlying the cognitive effects of Centella asiatica water extract and constituent compounds in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease (3U19AT010829-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10467365. Licensed CC0.

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