Alzheimer's Disease may be fought with natural compounds found in lichen
Research indicates that small toxin protein assemblies that aggregate Alzheimer's disease may be treated with a red dye found in lichens. Traditionally, the dye has been used to color fabrics and different foods. Now, German researchers, led by Dr. Jan Bieschke (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Berlin-Buch), have found that the red dye, consisting of compounds orcein and O4, can bind to the small amyloid assemblies responsible for neural dysfunction and memory difficulties associated with the disease. The binding action has been found to convert the small, toxic aggregates and convert them into larger, less toxic plaques. More testing is needed to classify this new advancement as an effective therapy.
SOURCE: EurekAlert