Extracts from Chinese herbs with anti-amyloid and neuroprotective activities

Many Chinese herbs are well known for their neuroprotective and anti-oxidant properties. Extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Anemarrhenae asphodeloides, tanshinone IIA (tanIIA), salvianolic acid B (Sal B) and sarsasapogenin (ML-1), were selected to study their dissociation potential towards A beta(42) peptide fibrils and neuroprotective effect on cells. Moreover, derivatives of sarsasapogenin (ML-2, ML-3 and ML-4) have been prepared by the addition of modified carbamate moiety. TanIIA and Sal B have shown to possess a strong ability to dissociate A beta(42) fibrils. The dissociation potential of ML-1 increased upon the introduction of carbamate moiety with N-heterocycles. In silico data revealed that derivatives ML-4 and Sal B interact with A beta(42) regions responsible for fibril stabilization through hydrogen bonds. Contrary, tanIIA binds close to a central hydrophobic region, which may lead to destabilization of fibrils. Sarsasapogenin derivative ML-2 decreased nitride oxide production, and derivative ML-4 enhanced the growth of neurites. The reported data highlight the possibility of using active compounds to design novel treatment agents for Alzheimer's disease. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Chinese herbs such as Salvia miltiorrhiza and Anemarrhenae asphodeloides have been found to possess neuroprotective and anti-oxidant properties. Compounds like tanshinone IIA and salvianolic acid B were effective in dissociating A beta(42) peptide fibrils. Derivatives of sarsasapogenin also showed potential for treating Alzheimer's disease by interacting with specific regions of A beta(42) responsible for fibril stabilization. These findings suggest a promising avenue for developing novel treatment agents.