An appropriate ratio of unsaturated fatty acids is the constituent of hickory nut extract for neurite outgrowth in human SH‐SY5Y cells

Hickory nuts (Carya cathayensis Sarg, CCS), a well‐known Chinese medicinal nut, is thought to improve memory in Chinese folks. However, functional constituents have not been scientifically identified. In this study, human SH‐SY5Y cells, combined with Q‐TOF mass spectrometry (Q‐TOF‐MS) and standard substances, were used to evaluate the function in neuronal development and to identify constituents of CCS hydrophobic extracts (CCS‐HE). Data showed that CCS‐HE but not the control induced neurite outgrowth of SH‐SY5Y cells in a dose‐dependent manner, supported by which CCS‐HE induced the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), neurofilament 160 (NF160), and neuronal peptide Y (NPY) mRNA. Q‐TOF‐MS analysis with standard substances indicated that linolenic acid (LNA), linoleic acid (LA), and oleic acid (OA) were the main constituents in CCS‐HE. Furthermore, mixtures of these unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) at the natural ratio (1:8:16) significantly induced neurite outgrowth and gene expression of NGF, NF160, and NPY in a dose‐dependent manner. However, the individual and alternative ratios were not effective to induce the neurite outgrowth and gene expression of NGF, NF160, and NPY. These data implicate that an appropriate ratio of UFAs is the main constituent for the neurite outgrowth.