Indian Herb Fights Amyloid Formation

MYSORE, IndiaThe Ayurvedic botanical Caesalpinia crista (Latakaranja) was traditionally used to fight inflammation and swelling; now researchers from the Central Food Technological Research Institute suggest C. crista leaf extract may fight the development and aggregation of amyloid beta (Abeta) fibrils, associated with onset of Alzheimers disease (Neurosci Lett. ePub 2010 Mar 28; DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2010.03.062). The in vitro trial found C. crista leaf aqueous extract prevented the formation of oligomers and aggregates from monomers; formation of fibrils from oligomers; and dis-aggregation of pre-formed fibrils. The extract had anti-amyloidogenic potential, inhibiting Abeta(42) aggregation and dis-aggregating preformed fibrils.