I'm not an expert in this area obviously, but for whatever reason, this is the question that came to mind when I read the abstract.
Maybe it is that those metabolites can be extracted and used independently for this purpose; i.e., they just so happen to result in this effect. That was not so clear to me. What seemed interesting is that these metabolites might actually be absorbed directly without being destroyed through the digestion process. It would lend some _remote_ credence to the folk medicines people come up with. I am of the opinion that some of that stuff is _maybe_ a little bit true, but of course, it would be better to do some real science on it to really see if it is actually effective or just a kind of placebo effect.
Wayne K Dawson RE: I am of the opinion that some of that stuff is _maybe_ a little bit true, but of course, it would be better to do some real science on it to really see if it is actually effective or just a kind of placebo effect.
I agree with you on that. One problem with natural remedies is quality and dosage control. Even if a plant has an effective ingredient, in its natural state the presence of that ingredient may vary widely, so something that has worked once for an individual may not work a second time. Real science is still needed to determine the amount of the ingredient in a relatively unprocessed natural product from particular locations, as well as optimal dosages for a variety of intended treatments.
Wayne K Dawson , Karl Pfeifer thanks for your comments.
Right now, we are investigating whether these compounds can inhibit one miRNA in a molecular pathway, but the interactions and feedback loops are so complex that it's really too soon to speculate about a positive or negative effect on the level of physiology. To use a metaphor, at this point we're trying to identify the working parts of an engine, not how they work together.