Current Quest in Natural Bioactive Compounds for Alzheimer’s Disease: Multi-Targeted-Designed-Ligand Based Approach with Preclinical and Clinical Based Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashif Iqubal ◽  
Syed Obaidur Rahman ◽  
Musheer Ahmed ◽  
Pratichi Bansal ◽  
Md Rafi Haider ◽  
...  

Abstract:: Alzheimer’s disease is a common and most chronic neurological disorder (NDs) associated with cognitive dys-function. Pathologically, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, hyper-phosphorylated tau proteins, and neurofibrillary tangles, however, persistence oxidative-nitrative stress, endoplasmic retic-ulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory cytokines, pro-apoptotic proteins along with altered neurotransmitters level are common etiological attributes in its pathogenesis. Rivastigmine, memantine, galantamine, and donepezil are FDA approved drugs for symptomatic management of AD whereas tacrine has been withdrawn because of hepatotoxic profile. These approved drugs only exert symptomatic relief and exhibit poor patient compliance. In the current scenario, the number of published evidence shows the neuroprotective potential of naturally occurring bioactive molecules via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and neurotransmitter modulatory properties. Despite of their potent therapeutic implica-tions, concerns have arisen in context to their efficacy and probable clinical outcome. Thus, to overcome these glitches many heterocyclic and cyclic hydrocarbon compounds inspired by natural sources have been synthesized and showed im-proved therapeutic activity. Computational studies (molecular docking) have been used to predict the binding affinity of these natural bioactive as well as synthetic compounds derived from natural sources for the acetylcholine esterase, α/β secretase Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells(NF-kB),Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) and other neurological targets. Thus, in this review, we have discussed molecular etiology of AD, focused on the pharmacotherapeutics of natural product, chemical and pharmacological aspects and multi-targeted designed ligands (MTDLs) of synthetic and semisynthetic molecules derived from the natural sources along with some important on-going clinical trials.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Meiling Lian ◽  
Jing Zhou ◽  
shengzhou wu

Abstract Background Oxidative stress critically underlies the neurodegenerative pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Depletion of Dicer1, an endoribonuclease central to microRNA maturation, also leads to neurodegeneration. We therefore hypothesized that altered Dicer1 expression may play a role in AD. Results Using immunoblotting and quantitative real-time PCR, we found that Dicer1 protein and mRNA levels were reduced in the hippocampi of animals of the AD mouse model APPswe/PSEN1dE9 compared with littermate controls. SiRNA-meditated Dicer1 knockdown induced oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial intermembrane potential, and increased apoptosis in cultured neurons. Aβ42 exposure decreased Dicer1 and also down-regulated the oxidative stress–induced transcriptional regulator nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Conversely, Nrf2 overexpression increased Dicer1 mRNA and protein levels and reverted the Aβ42-induced Dicer1 reduction. To further investigate Dicer1 regulation, we cloned Dicer1 promoter variants harboring the Nrf2-binding site, the antioxidant response elements (ARE), into a luciferase reporter and found that simultaneous transfection of Nrf2-expressing plasmid increased luciferase expression from these promoter constructs. ChIP assays indicated that Nrf2 directly interacted with the ARE motifs in the Dicer1 promoter. Furthermore, Dicer1 overexpression in cultured neurons reverted Aβ42-induced neurite deficits. Of note, injection of Dicer1-expressing adenovirus into the hippocampus of the AD mice significantly improved spatial learning. Conclusions These findings indicate that Dicer1 expression is reduced in the AD brain and that chronic Aβ exposure decreases Dicer1 levels in neurons via Nrf2–ARE signaling. Our results uncover a significant role for Dicer1 in AD and highlight that Dicer1 expression responds to oxidative stress in the brain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashif Iqubal ◽  
Mohammad Kashif Iqubal ◽  
Syed Abul Fazal ◽  
Faheem Hyder Pottoo ◽  
Syed Ehtaishamul Haque

: Alzheimer’s disease is one of the common chronic neurological disorders and associated with cognitive dysfunction, depression and progressive dementia. Presence of β-amyloid or senile plaques, hyper-phosphorylated tau proteins, neurofibrillary tangle, oxidative-nitrative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, neuroinflammation and derailed neurotransmitter status are the hallmark of AD. Currently, donepezil, memantine, rivastigmine and galantamine are approved by the FDA for symptomatic management. It is well-known that these approved drugs only exert symptomatic relief and possess poor patient-compliance. Additionally, various published evidence shows the neuroprotective potential of various nutraceuticals via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in the preclinical and clinical studies. These nutraceuticals possess a significant neuroprotective potential and hence, can be a future pharmacotherapeutic for the management and treatment of AD. However, nutraceutical suffers from certain major limitations such as poor solubility, low bioavailability, low stability, fast hepatic-metabolism and larger particle size. These pharmacokinetic attributes restrict their entry into the brain via the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, to over such issues, various nanoformulation of nutraceuticals was developed, that allows their effective delivery into brain owning to reduced particle size, increased lipophilicity increased bioavailability and avoidance of fast hepatic metabolism. Thus, in this review, we have discussed the etiology of AD, focused on the pharmacotherapeutics of nutraceuticals with preclinical and clinical evidence, discussed pharmaceutical limitation and regulatory aspects of nutraceuticals to ensure safety and efficacy. We further explored the latitude of various nanoformulation of nutraceuticals as a novel approach to overcome the existing pharmaceutical limitation and for effective delivery into the brain.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunxi Zhang ◽  
Jia He Zhao ◽  
Zhihuai Bai ◽  
Fan Wu ◽  
Lina Luo ◽  
...  

Sulforaphane (SFN), a potent nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activator, presents a very potential role in improving the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-specific symptoms. However, the regulation mechanism of SFN...


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elahe Zarini-Gakiye ◽  
Javad Amini ◽  
Nima Sanadgol ◽  
Gholamhassan Vaezi ◽  
Kazem Parivar

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent subtype of incurable neurodegenerative dementias and its etiopathology is still not clearly elucidated. Objective: Outline the ongoing clinical trials (CTs) in the field of AD, in order to find novel master regulators. Methods: We strictly reviewed all scientific reports from Clinicaltrials.gov and PubMed databases from January 2010 to January 2019. The search terms were “Alzheimer's disease” or “dementia” and “medicine” or “drug” or “treatment” and “clinical trials” and “interventions”. Manuscripts that met the objective of this study were included for further evaluations. Results: Drug candidates have been categorized into two main groups including antibodies, peptides or hormones (such as Ponezumab, Interferon β-1a, Solanezumab, Filgrastim, Levemir, Apidra, and Estrogen), and naturally-derived ingredients or small molecules (such as Paracetamol, Ginkgo, Escitalopram, Simvastatin, Cilostazo, and Ritalin-SR). The majority of natural candidates acted as anti-inflammatory or/and anti-oxidant and antibodies exert their actions via increasing amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance or decreasing Tau aggregation. Among small molecules, most of them that are present in the last phases act as specific antagonists (Suvorexant, Idalopirdine, Intepirdine, Trazodone, Carvedilol, and Risperidone) or agonists (Dextromethorphan, Resveratrol, Brexpiprazole) and frequently ameliorate cognitive dysfunctions. Conclusion: The presences of a small number of candidates in the last phase suggest that a large number of candidates have had an undesirable side effect or were unable to pass essential eligibility for future phases. Among successful treatment approaches, clearance of Aβ, recovery of cognitive deficits, and control of acute neuroinflammation are widely chosen. It is predicted that some FDA-approved drugs, such as Paracetamol, Risperidone, Escitalopram, Simvastatin, Cilostazoand, and Ritalin-SR, could also be used in off-label ways for AD. This review improves our ability to recognize novel treatments for AD and suggests approaches for the clinical trial design for this devastating disease in the near future.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cláudia Yang Santos ◽  
Christine Getter ◽  
John Stoukides ◽  
Brian Ott ◽  
Stephen Salloway ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The precise mechanisms whereby cardiovascular risk factors increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have not been delineated. We reported that microvessels isolated from AD brains overexpress a diverse array of neurotoxic and inflammatory proteins, which is consistent with the process of vascular activation. In pre-clinical studies using AD animal models we showed that a vascular activation inhibitor reduced vascular-derived neuroinflammation and improved cognitive performance. Thrombin is a key mediator of cerebrovascular activation in AD. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the safety and potential efficacy of the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD to decrease vascular-derived neuroinflammation and improve cognitive performance. METHODS Participants will be enrolled then evaluated quarterly throughout the 24-month study. This is a 24-month randomized-control, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, delayed-start, pilot study evaluating thrombin inhibition in people with biomarker-confirmed MCI probably due to AD or mild AD. 40 - 60 participants will be recruited between 50 - 85 years old. In the initial 9-months of study, either dabigatran or placebo will be orally administered to patients at a dose of 150 mg per day. After 9 months of the placebo-control (Phase I), the placebo arm will cross-over to an active, open-label (Phase II) where all patients will be treated with a 150 mg daily dose of dabigatran orally for an additional 12 months. A 3-month non-treatment follow-up period will assess duration of effects. RESULTS Beginning in July 2019, and concluding in August 2022, this study is expected to publish final results in January 2023. CONCLUSIONS BEACON is a first-in-kind randomized clinical trial targeting thrombin activation in AD therapeutics. This trial will stimulate translational investigations of an FDA-approved drugs in a newly defined therapeutic areas. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03752294


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Barbara Miziak ◽  
Barbara Błaszczyk ◽  
Stanisław J. Czuczwar

Alzheimer’s disease (AD; progressive neurodegenerative disorder) is associated with cognitive and functional impairment with accompanying neuropsychiatric symptoms. The available pharmacological treatment is of a symptomatic nature and, as such, it does not modify the cause of AD. The currently used drugs to enhance cognition include an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist (memantine) and cholinesterase inhibitors. The PUBMED, Medical Subject Heading and Clinical Trials databases were used for searching relevant data. Novel treatments are focused on already approved drugs for other conditions and also searching for innovative drugs encompassing investigational compounds. Among the approved drugs, we investigated, are intranasal insulin (and other antidiabetic drugs: liraglitude, pioglitazone and metformin), bexarotene (an anti-cancer drug and a retinoid X receptor agonist) or antidepressant drugs (citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine). The latter, especially when combined with antipsychotics (for instance quetiapine or risperidone), were shown to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD patients. The former enhanced cognition. Procognitive effects may be also expected with dietary antioxidative and anti-inflammatory supplements—curcumin, myricetin, and resveratrol. Considering a close relationship between brain ischemia and AD, they may also reduce post-brain ischemia neurodegeneration. An investigational compound, CN-105 (a lipoprotein E agonist), has a very good profile in AD preclinical studies, and its clinical trial for postoperative dementia is starting soon.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document