Biologically active compounds, like arctigenin, a lignan produced by different plants may have neuroprotective effects.
Arctigenin effectively reduces normal, physiological electrical responses both in brain slices and in whole brain.
Arctigenin can cross the blood-brain barrier and it may exerts effect on nervous system of living animals.
Arctigenin effectively binds to GluK1 subunit of kainate receptors.
Different AMPA/KAIN types of ionotropic glutamate receptors may possess arctigenin binding properties.