Washington, Oct 02 : Emory University researchers have discovered a compound in tree bark that mimics the chemical reactions of a naturally occurring molecule in the brain responsible for stimulating neuronal cell signalling.
The tree bark compound, known as gambogic amide, behaves much like Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a molecule found in the brain.
Neuronal cell signalling plays a crucial role in the growth, plasticity and survival of brain cells.