GABA-containing compound gammapyrone protects against brain impairments in Alzheimer's disease model male rats and prevents mitochondrial dysfunction in cell culture.
Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, decreased glucose/energy metabolism, and disrupted neurotransmission are changes that occur early in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), manifesting as mild cognitive impairment. Recently, the imbalanced function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system was identified as a critical factor in AD progression. Thus, maintaining balance among neurotransmitter systems, particularly the GABA system, can be considered a beneficial strategy to slow AD progression. The present study investigated the effects of the compound gammapyrone, a molecule containing three GABA moieties: "free" moiety attached to the position 4 of the 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) ring, and…
Therapeutic potential of dietary polyphenols against brain ageing and neurodegenerative disorders
In recent years there has been a growing interest, supported by a large number of experimental and epidemiological studies, in the beneficial effects of some commonly used food-derived products in preventing various age-related pathologic conditions, ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. Spices and herbs often contain active phenolic substances endowed with potent antioxidative and chemopreventive properties. Curcumin is a phytochemical compound extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma Longa. It is the pigment responsible for the characteristic yellow color of Indian curry. Data from our and other laboratories demonstrated that curcumin, as well as some other polyphenols, strongly…