Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have made a major breakthrough in understanding how a natural compound from Chinese medicine could help treat Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.

Led by Professor Ben Ko Chi-bun, the team discovered how tetrandrine – a plant extract long known for its anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects – works inside the body. Using advanced imaging, the scientists found that tetrandrine regulates calcium activity through tiny structures called lysosomes, instead of directly targeting calcium channels as once believed.

This new understanding opens fresh directions for developing drugs that target lysosome functions to treat neurodegenerative diseases and even some cancers. The team has also built a new research platform to study how natural products from traditional Chinese medicine can support future medical discoveries.