In a significant scientific finding with public health implications, researchers have detected the presence of BMAA (β-N-methylamino-L-alanine), a potential neurotoxin, in several species of ancient Cycad plants growing in Odisha’s forests, the AIIMS Bhubaneswar informed in a press statement on Monday.
The discovery has raised concern as some local communities continue to consume cycad-based foods such as pitha, a traditional rice-based cake in Odisha, as part of their customary diet and rituals.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar posted on x that it has initiated ground-breaking research on cycad plant toxicity and its link to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsonism, motor neuron disease, and dementia.
“To address this burning query, a distinguished group of national and international scientists and medical experts recently convened at an international workshop titled ‘Cycad-Related Neurological Disorders: A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Its Remediation’. The event was jointly organised by the Department of Neurology, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong,” the statement added.
According to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the workshop highlighted the potential health risks associated with cycads, an ancient plant species that coexisted with dinosaurs more than 300 million years ago. Often used today as ornamental flora, cycad species contain potent toxins including Cycacin, BMAA (β-N-methylamino-L-alanine), and MAM (methylazoxymethanol).
These compounds have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinsonism, motor neuron disease, and dementia in regions like the Guam Peninsula (USA) and the Kii Peninsula (Japan), where cycads have traditionally been part of local diets.
As part of the workshop, field visits were conducted in Khordha and Dhenkanal districts, where local communities traditionally consume cycad-based foods. During these visits, experts interacted with villagers, patients, and local healthcare providers to better understand the possible neurological and related health issues arising from the consumption of cycad seeds.
(IANS)