Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a drawback in society given the ageing population. Dementias are the most prevalent NDs, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) representing around 70% of all cases. The current pharmaceuticals for AD are symptomatic and with no effects on the progression of the dis...

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Main Authors: Andrea Castaneda, Ricardo Ferraz, Mónica Vieira, Isabel Cardoso, Vitor Vasconcelos, Rosário Martins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Marine Drugs
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/19/6/343
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author Andrea Castaneda
Ricardo Ferraz
Mónica Vieira
Isabel Cardoso
Vitor Vasconcelos
Rosário Martins
author_facet Andrea Castaneda
Ricardo Ferraz
Mónica Vieira
Isabel Cardoso
Vitor Vasconcelos
Rosário Martins
author_sort Andrea Castaneda
collection DOAJ
description Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a drawback in society given the ageing population. Dementias are the most prevalent NDs, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) representing around 70% of all cases. The current pharmaceuticals for AD are symptomatic and with no effects on the progression of the disease. Thus, research on molecules with therapeutic relevance has become a major focus for the scientific community. Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic prokaryotes rich in biomolecules with confirmed activity in pathologies such as cancer, and with feasible potential in NDs such as AD. In this review, we aimed to compile the research works focused in the anti-AD potential of cyanobacteria, namely regarding the inhibition of the enzyme β-secretase (BACE1) as a fundamental enzyme in the generation of β-amyloid (Aβ), the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) lead to an increase in the availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as phenomena associated with neurodegeneration mechanisms.
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spelling doaj.art-25b328ebaacc490d961ecf293fd09a822023-11-22T00:18:53ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972021-06-0119634310.3390/md19060343Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s DiseaseAndrea Castaneda0Ricardo Ferraz1Mónica Vieira2Isabel Cardoso3Vitor Vasconcelos4Rosário Martins5CISA, Health and Environment Research Centre, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ESS/P.PORTO), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalCISA, Health and Environment Research Centre, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ESS/P.PORTO), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalCISA, Health and Environment Research Centre, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ESS/P.PORTO), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalI3S Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, PortugalCIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalCISA, Health and Environment Research Centre, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ESS/P.PORTO), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalNeurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a drawback in society given the ageing population. Dementias are the most prevalent NDs, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) representing around 70% of all cases. The current pharmaceuticals for AD are symptomatic and with no effects on the progression of the disease. Thus, research on molecules with therapeutic relevance has become a major focus for the scientific community. Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic prokaryotes rich in biomolecules with confirmed activity in pathologies such as cancer, and with feasible potential in NDs such as AD. In this review, we aimed to compile the research works focused in the anti-AD potential of cyanobacteria, namely regarding the inhibition of the enzyme β-secretase (BACE1) as a fundamental enzyme in the generation of β-amyloid (Aβ), the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) lead to an increase in the availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as phenomena associated with neurodegeneration mechanisms.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/19/6/343cyanobacteriaAlzheimer’s diseasenatural productsnew therapies
spellingShingle Andrea Castaneda
Ricardo Ferraz
Mónica Vieira
Isabel Cardoso
Vitor Vasconcelos
Rosário Martins
Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease
Marine Drugs
cyanobacteria
Alzheimer’s disease
natural products
new therapies
title Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease
title_full Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease
title_fullStr Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease
title_full_unstemmed Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease
title_short Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer’s Disease
title_sort bridging cyanobacteria to neurodegenerative diseases a new potential source of bioactive compounds against alzheimer s disease
topic cyanobacteria
Alzheimer’s disease
natural products
new therapies
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/19/6/343
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