LAUSR

Purpose : To examine the relationship between higher antioxidant activity and aggregation or disaggregation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) for 21 plants. Methods: Twenty-nine natural plant extracts and their antioxidant activities were analyzed using DPPH assay. The aggregation and disaggregation of Aβ were analyzed using Thioflavin-T assay. Results : Eleven plant extracts exhibited high antioxidant activities with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values 80.0 μg/mL) inhibited Aβ aggregation less efficiently with a mean IC 50 value of 75.7 μg/mL. Furthermore, plant extracts with high antioxidant activities were not invariably efficient for disaggregating pre-formed Aβ aggregates. Conclusion: High antioxidant activities were positively correlated with the inhibition of Aβ aggregation, although not with the disaggregation of pre-formed Aβ aggregates. Nevertheless, potent antioxidants may be helpful in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, β-Amyloid, Aggregation, Disaggregation, Antioxidants