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Natural compound from 'pond scum' shows potential activity against Alzheimer's
December 29, 2005A compound isolated from a cyanobacterium, a type of blue-green algae known as Nostoc, shows promise of becoming a natural drug candidate for fighting Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to an in vitro study by researchers in Switzerland. It is believed to be the first time that a potent agent against Alzheimer's has been isolated from cyanobacteria, commonly known as 'pond scum.' The study was published in the Dec. 26 issue of the Journal of Natural Products, a monthly peer-reviewed joint publication of the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Pharmacognosy.
Cyanobacteria and other marine natural products have been increasingly found to be a promising source of drug candidates for fighting a variety of human diseases, including cancer and bacterial infections, but their chemistry has been largely unexplored, experts say. Now, a common marine organism could lead to yet another potential health benefit, says study leader Karl Gademann, Ph.D., an organic chemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich. Gademann's lab specializes in identifying, synthesizing and studying new bioactive compounds from natural sources.
There is no cure for Alzheimer's at present, although cholinesterase inhibitors have shown promise for delaying or preventing the symptoms of mild to moderate forms of the disease, experts say. The newly isolated compound, nostocarboline, was shown to be a potent inhibitor of cholinesterase - a brain chemical thought to be important for memory and thinking - whose breakdown has been associated with the disease's progression. The natural compound's potency is comparable to galanthamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor already approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's, the researchers say.
As with any promising structure, it could be many years before the new compound is tested as a drug candidate in humans, the scientists caution. In addition to Gademann, others involved in this study include Friedrich Jüttner and Paul Becher of the University of Zürich and Julien Beuchat, currently with the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland.
American Chemical Society
As with any promising structure, it could be many years before the new compound is tested as a drug candidate in humans, the scientists caution. In addition to Gademann, others involved in this study include Friedrich Jüttner and Paul Becher of the University of Zürich and Julien Beuchat, currently with the Université de Lausanne in Switzerland.
American Chemical Society
Alzheimer Current Events and Alzheimer News RSSUniversity of the Basque Country study on proteins related to Alzheimer
The cause, or at least one of the possible causes, of memory loss amongst Alzheimer sufferers is related to the location of certain proteins.
Ben-Gurion University Alzheimer's researcher demonstrates specific immune response to vaccine
A researcher who is working on a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has demonstrated that it is possible to test and measure specific immune responses in mice carrying human genes and to anticipate the immune response in Alzheimer's patients.
August 10, 2009 New Class of Compounds Discovered for Potential Alzheimer's Disease Drug, Penn Study Finds
A new class of molecules capable of blocking the formation of specific protein clumps that are believed to contribute to the dementia of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients has been discovered by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Study by NTU professors provides important insight into apoptosis or programmed cell death
A study by Nanyang Technological University (NTU)'s Assistant Professor Li Hoi Yeung, Assistant Professor Koh Cheng Gee and their team have made an important contribution to the understanding of the process that cells go through when they die.
A research work carried out in mice will contribute to the study of hereditary diseases that lead to blindness
Noticias UGR Researchers of the University of Granada (Spain) have used a technique consisting of the induction of neuronal degeneration neuronal for intense light exposure in the mouse's retina that will be helpful for the study of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a group of hereditary diseases which lead to blindness and affect more than one million persons a year all over the world.
Delirium in hospitalized adults: Situation critical, no relief available
Every year as many as seven million adults in the United States experience delirium during hospitalization.
Neural stem cell differentiation factor discovered
Neural stem cells represent the cellular backup of our brain. These cells are capable of self-renewal to form new stem cells or differentiate into neurons, astrocytes or oligodendrocytes.
New data demonstrate potential for early detection of Alzheimer's disease
Data published in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease demonstrated that minimally-invasive biospectroscopy was able to identify changes in oxidative stress (OS) levels in blood plasma, which may prove to be a useful biomarker in the early detection of Alzheimer's disease.
Another McGill/JGH breakthrough opens door to early Alzheimer's diagnosis
A new diagnostic technique which may greatly simplify the detection of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by researchers at McGill University and the affiliated Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital (JGH).
Measuring brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have shown that a fully automated procedure called Volumetric MRI - which measures the "memory centers" of the brain and compares them to expected size - is effective in predicting the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease.
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