Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Current research is geared towards the discovery of new compounds with strong neuroprotective potential and few or no side effects compared to synthetic drugs. This review focuses on the potentials of extracts and biologically active compounds derived from microalgal biomass for the treatment and ma...
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doaj-81bee26ad68749f78b3adc9e086164982020-11-25T00:10:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492017-03-0122348010.3390/molecules22030480molecules22030480Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s DiseaseTosin A. Olasehinde0Ademola O. Olaniran1Anthony I. Okoh2Applied Environmental Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South AfricaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South AfricaApplied Environmental Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South AfricaCurrent research is geared towards the discovery of new compounds with strong neuroprotective potential and few or no side effects compared to synthetic drugs. This review focuses on the potentials of extracts and biologically active compounds derived from microalgal biomass for the treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Microalgal research has gained much attention recently due to its contribution to the production of renewable fuels and the ability of alga cells to produce several secondary metabolites such as carotenoids, polyphenols, sterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids and polysaccharides. These compounds exhibit several pharmacological activities and possess neuroprotective potential. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves complex mechanisms that are associated with oxidative stress, cholinergic dysfunction, neuronal damage, protein misfolding and aggregation. The antioxidant, anticholinesterase activities as well as the inhibitory effects of some bioactive compounds from microalgae extracts on β-amyloid aggregation and neuronal death are discussed extensively. Phytochemical compounds from microalgae are used as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food supplements, and may possess neuroprotective potentials that are relevant to the management and/or treatment of AD.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/3/480Alzheimer’s diseasemicroalgaebioactive compoundsneuroprotectionoxidative stresscholinesterasesβ-secretase |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tosin A. Olasehinde Ademola O. Olaniran Anthony I. Okoh |
spellingShingle |
Tosin A. Olasehinde Ademola O. Olaniran Anthony I. Okoh Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease Molecules Alzheimer’s disease microalgae bioactive compounds neuroprotection oxidative stress cholinesterases β-secretase |
author_facet |
Tosin A. Olasehinde Ademola O. Olaniran Anthony I. Okoh |
author_sort |
Tosin A. Olasehinde |
title |
Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_short |
Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_full |
Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_fullStr |
Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_full_unstemmed |
Therapeutic Potentials of Microalgae in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease |
title_sort |
therapeutic potentials of microalgae in the treatment of alzheimer’s disease |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Molecules |
issn |
1420-3049 |
publishDate |
2017-03-01 |
description |
Current research is geared towards the discovery of new compounds with strong neuroprotective potential and few or no side effects compared to synthetic drugs. This review focuses on the potentials of extracts and biologically active compounds derived from microalgal biomass for the treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Microalgal research has gained much attention recently due to its contribution to the production of renewable fuels and the ability of alga cells to produce several secondary metabolites such as carotenoids, polyphenols, sterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids and polysaccharides. These compounds exhibit several pharmacological activities and possess neuroprotective potential. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves complex mechanisms that are associated with oxidative stress, cholinergic dysfunction, neuronal damage, protein misfolding and aggregation. The antioxidant, anticholinesterase activities as well as the inhibitory effects of some bioactive compounds from microalgae extracts on β-amyloid aggregation and neuronal death are discussed extensively. Phytochemical compounds from microalgae are used as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food supplements, and may possess neuroprotective potentials that are relevant to the management and/or treatment of AD. |
topic |
Alzheimer’s disease microalgae bioactive compounds neuroprotection oxidative stress cholinesterases β-secretase |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/3/480 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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