Psyched Wellness Ltd. announced that results from a recent scientific study, to be published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, show that Amanita muscaria extract activates human microglia, which play a key role in maintaining brain function. The study, titled "Amanita muscaria extract potentiates production of proinflammatory cytokines by dRNA-activated human microglia" and conducted by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), demonstrates that Amanita muscaria extraction activates immune cells of the brain called microglia, which are resident macrophage cells that act as the first and main form of active immunity in the central nervous system. Using human microglia cells grown in lab cultures, the group has shown for the first time that Amanita muscaria activates these important brain immune cells to produce immune mediators which can mobilize other immune cells in the brain and alter the way in which neurons function.

This is important as microglia cells are key cells involved in brain maintenance clearing the central nervous system (CNS) of plaques, damaged neurons, excess synapse, and infectious agents. Key areas of neuroinflammation and immune induced changes in the brain may be responsible for migraine, depression, and changes in sleep patterns. This study shows for the first time how Amanita muscaria extract can positively modulate brain health.

At the same time, Amanita muscaria extract will cause microglia to express important receptors on their surface that can help them interact with other brain cells. Using metabolite screening technology, the group also showed that Amanita muscaria extracts contain important metabolites such as trehalose, a sugar produced by some fungi and yeasts that is used as an ingredient in food, beauty products and some pharmaceutical products, which could be playing an important role in mediating the microglial inflammatory responses. Overall, this new study shows that Amanita muscaria may influence microglial function.