The present invention relates to a composition and a method of utilizing Gastrodia elata extract or an adenosine analog to promote neurogenesis, wherein the G. elata extract includes gastrodin, gastrodigenin, parishins, N6-(4-hydroxybenzyl) adenosine (T1-11) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The G. elata extract of the present invention exhibits anti-aging activity on nerve cells and can induce neurogenesis in mouse hippocampus.本發明為涉及一種利用天麻萃取物或腺苷類似物促進神經元新生的方法，該天麻萃取物包含有天麻素(gastrodin)、天麻苷元(gastrodigenin)、派立辛化合物(parishins)、N6-(4-羥基苯甲基)腺苷(T1-11)以及4-羥基苯甲醛(4-hydroxybenzaldehyde)。本發明的天麻萃取物對神經細胞具有減緩老化活性並且可以誘導小鼠海馬迴神經元新生。
