Researchers at Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said this week that they had discovered flavonoids capable of improving animals' learning ability in a study that began in 2003.

 

These flavonoids were found to improve the memory of mice with dementia and that of naturally aged² mice.

 

Researchers then identified the 20 flavonoid compounds in the petals and made tablets that can produce a similar effect at small dosages.

 

The research institute signed a deal with a pharmaceutical³ marker to apply the research finding.

 

The white and pink cotton-petal blossom bloom before the cotton bolls. Xinjiang is a major cotton production base in China. Previously⁴ these petals were discarded but after their medicinal property were uncovered, they now sell for around 15 yuan per kilogram in the market.

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