Screening for neurodegenerative aggregation modulating herbal extracts

In order to function, cells and organisms must ensure the correct three-dimensional structure of the cellular proteome. Maintenance of protein integrity and functional balance was named “proteostasis”. Under stress conditions which include familial mutations and the aging process, some proteins misfold and aggregate in a process linked to neurodegeneration. Organisms developed protective mechanisms for aggregated protein digestion and clearing. One arm of these protective activities digests and degrades while the other hyper aggregates the accumulated proteins and sequesters them in cellular protein deposits.

Searching for active neuroprotective compounds, we examine the effect of medicinal herbs known in traditional folk medicine as promoters of memory and healthspan in the elderly. These present the advantage of century proven safety while allowing their complex mixture of phyto chemicals to simultaneously multitarget diverse biochemical pathways contributing to the aging process. Plant extract activity is examined in cellular models of protein aggregation and proteostasis including Alzheimer`s disease, following treatment by herbal extracts. Our screen has pointed at herbal extracts which modulate proteostsis protective activities such as Autophagy and Hyper aggregation, as well as canonical Alzheimer`s disease pathways: Amyloid beta toxicity and APP cleavage.

Apparently, while more than one mechanism is accountable for neurodegenerative maladies, it is most probable that diverse protective activities will be required in order to personally tailor medication. In conclusion, we expect these experiments to generate a comprehensive toolbox composed of plant extracts presenting unique and selective activities, which will allow personalized treatment, designed to match specific profiling of neurodegenerative patients.