Research

The Neurophenols project brings together more than 30 professionals including 22 scientists and engineers focused on research. These scientists are grouped into different cells, each working on a specific part of the project.

On this page, the scientists will keep you posted on research progress.

• In vivo study

Julien BENSALEM ACTIV’INSIDE PhD student, linked to NUTRINEURO laboratory (Bordeaux, FR)		Pauline LAFENETRE Lecturer at NUTRINEURO laboratory (Bordeaux, FR)

"Within Neurophenols project, NutriNeuro laboratory aims to study the effects of a supplementation with botanical extracts rich in polyphenols on the learning and memory functions of aged mice, and to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these effects.

The first objective is to highlight an age-related memory deficit during behavioral tests involving specific brain structures altered by aging such as the hippocampus. The second objective is to verify the efficacy of a nutritional supplementation with polyphenols to attenuate the effects of age on cognitive functions. Following behavioral analyses, mechanistic aspects will be explored and in particular the effect on brain plasticity via analysis of gene expression (RT-qPCR) and neurons functional activity (immunohistochemistry).

Our current results show that older mice exhibit a delay in learning in a spatial memory task which is restored by a diet rich in polyphenols. This supplementation has no effect on young animals. Moreover, the enriched diet seems to improve retention in young and aged mice.”

Frédéric CALON Teacher-Researcher at INAF (Laval University, Québec City, CA)		Alexandre DAL-PAN Post-Doc researcher at INAF (Laval University, Québec City, CA))

"Our goal is to document the beneficial effects of the extracts in aged mice and in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models.

Among the existing Alzheimer’s disease animal models, we use specifically the tritransgenic mice (3xTg-AD). These mice gradually develop cognitive deficit, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, characteristics of the disease.

Although the genetic causes of the disease are compelling, it is not yet possible to modify the genes of an individual. However, environmental factors are editable. This is why we look at the effects of a supplementation with fruit extracts on the appearance of these symptoms."

Véronique LERAY Teacher-Researcher at ONIRIS (Nantes, FR)		Patrick NGUYEN Director of the Nutrition and Endocrinology unit at ONIRIS (Nantes, FR)

"Unit of nutrition and endocrinology has several years of experiences on nutritional modulation of metabolic and endocrine parameters in dogs.

We contribute in Neurophenols project by:

• Determining the effectiveness of each component of a specific blend of fruit extracts on the body oxidative and inflammatory status. These could be enhanced by botanical polyphenols. The evaluation will be done by assaying plasma markers and gene expression.
• Testing the final blend safety, by measuring markers of liver and kidney health in dogs receiving different amounts of the fruit extracts blend."

• Analytical characterization of ingredients
• Determination of the mechanism of action using cellular model
• Clinical study