Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada Natural Health Products, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration Online Symposium 2025

Natural Health Products, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration Online Symposium 2025

By Siyaram Pandey – Organizing Chair

BOD – Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada Distinguished University Professor

University of Windsor, Windsor, ON

Summary

Various natural health products (NHPs), including extracts from Ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera) and Prasachandaeng, natural supplementary compounds, prebiotics and probiotics have shown excellent preventative and therapeutic effects against Alzheiemer’s, Parkinson’s, and related neurodegenerative diseases. Some of these extracts have undergone successful clinical studies as well. Some highlights of NHP intervention are economic and health-forward sustainability, ease of administration, and healing benefits with long-term use. Many researchers have explored these ideas with interesting results, including the recovery of cellular and symptomatic conditions following intervention. Several of the NHPs have potential to prevent neurodegenerative diseases, as well as mitigate disease progression and enhance quality of life.

The current symposium provided platform for many of the aforementioned topics as well as esteemed invited plenary experts on probiotic regulatory affairs, efficacy of clinical probiotic intervention in neurodegenerative disease patients, and novel nanomicellar formulation of natural compounds and ethanolic plant-based extracts for better bioavailability and their anti- neurodegenerative abilities. Five young researchers also presented their fascinating work on NHP intervention to prevent and treat progressive neurodegenerative pathways. It is extremely engaging to hear the collaborative communications regarding pre-clinical and clinical studies about NHPs against neurodegeneration discussed in this symposium.

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Abstract ID: ﾕ58 for Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada (Auto-Cenerated ﾕ6 December, 2025 8:34 am)

Ethnopharmacological Validation of Prasachandaeng Remedy: IL-6 Inhibitory Mechanisms Supporting Traditional Anti-inflammatory Uses

by Nuntika Prommee | Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Naresuan

University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand

Abstract ID: 158

Event: NHPs, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration

Topic: Neurodegeneration Research

Presenter Name: Nuntika Prommee

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory activity, Ethnopharmacology, Prasachandaeng remedy, Thai traditional medicine

Summary / Résumé

Prasachandaeng remedy (PSD) represents a significant ethnopharmacological preparation officially recognized within the Thailand National List of Essential Drug, traditionally employed in the therapeutic management of fever and associated inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities and underlying mechanisms of powder of PSD (PSDP) and the ethanolic extract of PSD (PSDE) in alignment with its traditional uses. The anti-inflammatory activities was evaluated via IL-6 using ELISA assay. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects were assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema in animal. PSDE and PSDP demonstrated IL-6 inhibitory activities with IC_5O values of 12.99±1.22 and 32.3O±1.5O 5g/mL, respectively, with the PSDE exhibited 1.96-fold and 3.91-fold greater potency than acetaminophen and ibuprofen, respectively. In vivo studies revealed anti-inflammatory inhibition of 49.45% for the PSDE compared to 54.12% for ibuprofen. This study provides scientific evidence supporting the traditional use of PSD for inflammatory and febrile conditions through IL-6 and ACE-2 inhibitory mechanisms.

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Abstract ID: ﾕ5P for Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada (Auto-Cenerated ﾕ6 December, 2025 8:25 am)

MRI As A Diagnostic Tool To Observe Structural Changes In The Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Treatment Of Ubisol-Q1O And Ashwagandha

by Alex Stoinescu | Keanna Dube | Siyaram Pandey | University of Windsor | University of Windsor |

University of Windsor

Abstract ID: 159

Event: NHPs, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration

Topic: Neurodegeneration Research

Presenter Name: Alex Stoinescu

Keywords: Alzheimer\’s Disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Natural Health Products, Neurodegeneration, Transgenic 5XFAD Mouse Model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, where early pathological changes precede the symptoms by decades. Additional mechanisms include impaired autophagy, inflammation, oxidative stress, and synaptic dysfunction. Current FDA-approved treatments offer modest symptomatic relief. Natural health products (NHPs) such as Coenzyme-Q1O and Ashwagandha root extract are affordable, accessible, and suitable for long-term use. This study evaluated the neuroprotective potential of a combined CoenzymeQ1O-Ashwagandha tonic in the 5XFAD mouse model. Structural brain changes were assessed longitudinally using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with manual segmentation performed in 3D Slicer referencing the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas. It was hypothesized that treated transgenic mice would exhibit brain structures more similar to wild-type controls than untreated transgenic mice. Results indicated that treatment preserved hippocampal and ventricular integrity, while untreated mice showed significant white matter enlargement in regions including the cerebellar peduncles, corpus callosum, and fimbria. These findings suggest that combined tonic treatment may mitigate AD-related neurodegeneration. Future work introducing treatment at later stages and employing MRI coregistration with anatomical atlases may yield deeper insights into the therapeutic potential of the tonic treatment.

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Abstract ID: ﾕ6ﾕ for Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada (Auto-Cenerated ﾕ6 December, 2025 8:33 am)

Novel Treatment of Combined Ubisol-Q1O and Ethanolic Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Extract Preserves Dendritic Health and Memory in a 5xFAD Mouse Model

by Keanna Dube | Siyaram Pandey | Michelle Truong | University of Windsor | University of Windsor |

University of Windsor

Abstract ID: 161

Event: NHPs, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration

Topic: Neurodegeneration Research

Presenter Name: Keanna Dube

Keywords: 5xFAD mice, Alzheimer’s disease, Ashwagandha extract, Golgi-Cox, Ubisol-Q10, coenzyme-Q10, cognitive memory test, natural health products

Summary

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves synaptic loss, dendritic degeneration, and cognitive decline driven by amyloid-β aggregation, tau pathology, and neuroinflammation. The current study tested a novel therapy of combined two natural health products, water-soluble coenzyme-Q1O (Ubisol-Q1O; UQ) and ethanolic ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera; ASH), formulated to simultaneously target multiple mechanisms involved in AD neurodegeneration. Male transgenic 5xFAD mice received the combined “Tonic” (O.O5µg/mL UQ+2mg/mL ASH; n=8) or control solution (n=8) from 2-11mo of age, with wild-type controls (n=7) for comparison. Cognitive performance was assessed longitudinally using novel object and novel location recognition tests in an X-maze, and post-mortem Golgi-Cox staining quantified dendritic complexity and neuronal morphology in the hippocampus. Preliminary data reveal that treated 5xFAD mice exhibit preserved memory performance, as indicated by increased exploration preference for novel stimuli, and significantly more mature neuronal morphology compared to untreated transgenic mice. Results from treated mice parallel wild-type controls, indicating robust neuroprotection and synaptic maintenance. Together, the cognitive and morphological findings provide strong preliminary evidence for the efficacy of UQ+ASH therapy in providing a safe, multi-targeting therapy to halt or slow AD-related cognitive and neuronal degeneration.

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Abstract ID: ﾕ62 for Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada (Auto-Cenerated ﾕ6 December, 2025 8:33 am)

Probiotics and Synbiotics Affect the Proliferation and Oxidative Stress in HT-29 and SH-SY5Y Cells

by Editha Renesteen | Satya Prakash | McGill University | McGill University

Abstract ID: 162

Event: NHPs, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration

Topic: Neurodegeneration Research

Presenter Name: Editha Renesteen

Keywords: HT-29 cells, Probiotics, SH-SY5Y cells, oxidative stress, proliferation, synbiotics

The human gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining health by influencing various physiological processes through complex interactions with the host. Among the strategies to modulate this microbiome, probiotics and synbiotics have garnered significant attention for their potential health benefits. The current study designs optimize and test a novel probiotic and synbiotic formulation consisting of three metabolically active probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Bifidobacteria infantis, together with a novel polyphenol-rich prebiotic, Triphala. Additionally, the effects of such probiotics and synbiotics on HT-29 and SH-SY5Y cells on proliferation and oxidative stress were studied. The results showed that there were no significant differences in cell proliferation of HT-29 and SY-5Y cells after incubating with probiotic and synbiotic formulations for 6 hours. Moreover, after 24 hours, the synbiotic treatment increased SH-SY5Y cell proliferation by 2- fold. Further, the reactive oxygen species level significantly decreased in both cells treated with synbiotics compared to the control. Altogether, the present study suggested that probiotic and synbiotic treatments were safe to the cells, as shown in the proliferation and oxidative stress levels in both human colon cancer and neuroblastoma cells.

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Abstract ID: ﾕ60 for Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada (Auto-Cenerated ﾕ6 December, 2025 8:2P am)

Ubisol-Q1O and Ethanolic Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Extract Reduce Frailty in a Transgenic Alzheimer’s Mouse Model

by Keanna Dube | Siyaram Pandey | Maira Chaudhry | University of Windsor | University of Windsor |

University of Windsor

Abstract ID: 160

Event: NHPs, Probiotics & Neurodegeneration

Topic: Neurodegeneration Research

Presenter Name: Keanna Dube

Keywords: 5xFAD mice, Alzheimer’s disease, Ashwagandha extract, Frailty index, Ubisol-Q10, coenzyme-Q10, natural health products

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β deposition, tau pathology, and neuroinflammation, leading to systemic and neurological decline. In the current study, we investigated a novel therapy combining two natural health products, water-soluble coenzyme-Q1O (Ubisol-Q1O; UQ) and ethanolic ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera; ASH), for their multi-targeted neuroprotective potential. Male transgenic 5xFAD mice and wild-type controls (n=7) were provided either the combined “Tonic” (O.O5µg/mL UQ+2mg/mL ASH; n=8) or control solution (n=8) from 2-11 months of age. The mouse frailty index (FI) was used to assess physical health and biological aging as indicators of systemic resilience over multiple timepoints throughout the disease progression. Preliminary results indicate that treated 5xFAD mice maintain significantly lower frailty scores compared to untreated transgenics, remaining comparable to wild-type controls across multiple aging domains. These findings suggest that longitudinal UQ+ASH administration may relieve age-related physiological decline alongside neurodegenerative progression. This approach emphasizes the value of frailty as a sensitive biomarker of whole-body health and efficacy of therapeutics in AD models. Together, these results support the potential of UQ+ASH as a safe, long-term, multi-targeting intervention which can preserve both neurological and systemic resilience throughout AD progression.

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