Chonnam Med J.  2001 Dec;37(4):367-376.

Detection of Inhibitors of beta-Amyloid Peptide Aggregation in Plant Extracts

• Chung MA
• Chay KO
• Ahn BW

Abstract

The aggregated beta-amyloid peptides (betaAPs) are suggested to be important in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, inhibitory effects of plant extracts on beta-AP aggregation were examined using DNA electrophoresis. Of 155 kinds of plant extracts, the Stephanandra incisa extract showed the highest inhibitory activity. Also, extracts of Thalictrum aquilegifclium, Belamcanda chinensis, Phyllostachys nigra, Alisma orientale and Achillea sibirica inhibited moderately the beta-AP aggregation, and extracts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Boehmeria tricuspis, Pharbitis nil, Smilax china, Scilla scilloides, Cnidium officinal, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Scutellaria baicalensis and Astragalus membranaceus were shown to slightly inhibit the beta-AP aggregation. Inhibitors of beta-AP aggregation were partially purified from Stephanandra incisa extract through cation exchanger treatment, ultrafiltration, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The inhibitors are not identified yet, but they are suggested to be polyanionic macromolecules. The purified preparation was toxic to cultured PC12 cells at the concentrations above 0.1microgram/ml. The preparation, however, could significantly protect the PC12 cells from beta-AP cytotoxicity at 0.1microgram/ml. The above results suggest that Stephanandra incisa and other plants may be the useful sources for effective inhibitors of beta-AP aggregation and for development of anti-Alzheimer drugs.

Keyword

beta-amyloid peptide; Aggregation; Inhibitor; Stephanandra incisa

MeSH Terms

Achillea
Alisma
Alzheimer Disease
Animals
Astragalus membranaceus
Boehmeria
China
Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose
Cnidium
DNA
Electrophoresis
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Ipomoea nil
PC12 Cells
Peptides
Plant Extracts*
Plants*
Rhododendron
Scilla
Scutellaria baicalensis
Smilax
Thalictrum
Ultrafiltration
DNA
Peptides
Plant Extracts