Approximately 300 million people suffer from depressive disorders worldwide. Major depressive disorder or clinical depression is one of the mental disorders. It has a prevalence of about 20% in the general population with women outnumbering men. During the recent pandemic, the value has increased to about 25% having severe symptoms of depression, 34% having moderate symptoms of depression and 18% having mild symptoms of depression. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of depression through actions of free radicals, non-radical molecules, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. It occurs due to the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the human body, causing damage to organs and tissues that leads to symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, brain fog, muscle and/or joint pain.
Mushrooms are increasingly being acknowledged in complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) approaches for the treatment and/or management of various diseases, and are being valued as dietary supplements and functional foods. Associate Professor Dr. Wong Kah Hui, from the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya is a leading expert in neuroscience and CAMs. She has been conducting research on Hericium erinaceus for 23 years and NevGro®, a dietary supplement derived from Hericium erinaceus mushroom for 8 years. NevGro® is categorised under Dietary Supplement for Human included in Class 5 with a trademark number: 2018001586 and formulated by Ganofarm R&D Sdn. Bhd.
The inspiration behind exploring NevGro® as a potential treatment for depression originated from her personal experience of university students struggling with mental health issues. Many students face tremendous academic pressure, which often leads to anxiety, burnout and depression. In some cases, these conditions escalate to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Witnessing these struggles first-hand, she is motivated to explore herbal remedies as alternative therapeutics to alleviate depression.
In her study, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wong’s employed preclinical models that mimic the effect of depression. NevGro® attenuated deleterious effects of oxidative stress following exposure to high-dose corticosterone mimicking effects of depression in a cellular model by enhancing activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, restoring mitochondrial function and biogenesis, modulating expression of metabolic genes, and attenuating production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. On the other hand, treatment with NevGro® also ameliorated depressive- and anxiety-like behaviours in mice subjected to chronic restraint stress through a neurogenesis-dependent mechanism, as well as promoted anti-neuroinflammatory effects by reducing astrocyte activation in the hippocampus. Chronic stress increases the synthesis of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) by the hypothalamus and stimulates the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the anterior pituitary, therefore increasing the production of glucocorticoid (corticosterone) by the adrenal glands. Prolonged elevations in glucocorticoid result in decreased hippocampal neurogenesis and this in turn correlates with the induction of depressive and anxiety symptoms in this study. Moreover, individuals exposed to chronic stress have reduced expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and anterior pituitary leading to a loss of GCR-mediated negative feedback.
Generally, the public remains sceptical about the safety and use of herbal remedies thereby slowing the efforts being made to integrate NevGro® into clinical trials. The support from collaborators, Associate Professor Dr Lim Lee Wei of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Madam Cheng Poh Guat, Chief Scientific Officer of Ganofarm R&D Sdn. Bhd. played a key role in overcoming these challenges, ensuring the research was grounded in scientific rigor. The collaboration has indeed solidified the credibility of NevGro® as a potential therapeutic for depression. Moreover, her research team often showcases NevGro® at various international invention and innovation exhibitions to attract potential investors, manufacturers and marketers in ASEAN and beyond. Their participation at international expositions paves the way to encourage direct peer engagement for higher-level deal-making, co-investments, strategic partnerships and business networking. As of 2024, her research group was granted a total of 11 innovation awards at the exhibitions.
When asked about the future progress of NevGro®, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wong emphasised the importance of collaborating with neuropsychiatrists to conduct clinical trials. These trials will be crucial in evaluating the effects on humans and determining its efficacy and safety as a potential therapeutic for depression. Her research on NevGro® represents a significant advancement in the management of depression. This breakthrough expands treatment options, providing a natural alternative for those affected by the condition. With further research and clinical trials, NevGro® could revolutionise mental health care, making treatment more effective and accessible for individuals worldwide.
Researcher featured:
Associate Prof. Dr. Wong Kah Hui
Department of Anatomy,
Faculty of Medicine, UM
For inquiries, please contact:
T: +60-126915782
Author:
Ms Fiona Wong Yan Qi
A passionate medical student who loves to combine her interests in science and writing. I’m captivated by the complexities of the human body and enjoy crafting stories that illuminate the human experience.
Copyedit:
Siti Farhana Bajunid Shakeeb Arsalaan Bajunid, Assistant Registrar, UM
Photo by Arif Riyanto on Unsplash
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