title: Development of a grape seed polyphenolic extract with anti-oligomeric activity as a novel treatment in progressive supranuclear palsy and other tauopathies.
abstract: A diverse group of neurodegenerative diseases - including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration and Alzheimer's disease among others, collectively referred to as tauopathies - are characterized by progressive, age-dependent intracellular formations of misfolded protein aggregates that play key roles in the initiation and progression of neuropathogenesis. Recent studies from our laboratory reveal that grape seed-derived polyphenolic extracts (GSPE) potently prevent tau fibrillization into neurotoxic aggregates and therapeutically promote the dissociation of preformed tau aggregates [J. Alzheimer's Dis. (2009) vol. 16, pp. 433]. Based on our extensive bioavailability, bioactivity and functional preclinical studies, combined with the safety of GSPE in laboratory animals and in humans, we initiated a series of studies exploring the role of GSPE (Meganatural-Az(®) GSPE) as a potential novel botanical drug for the treatment of certain forms of tauopathies including PSP, a neurodegenerative disorder involving the accumulation and deposition of misfolded tau proteins in the brain characterized, in part, by abnormal intracellular tau inclusions in specific anatomical areas involving astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons [J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. (2002) vol. 61, pp. 33]. In this mini-review article, we discuss the biochemical characterization of GSPE in our laboratory and its potential preventative and therapeutic role in model systems of abnormal tau processing pertinent to PSP and related tauopathies.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Novel Approaches to Neurodiagnostics and Neurotherapeutics, Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA. giulio.pasinetti@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Giulio Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pasinetti
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ksiezak-Reding
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Santa-Maria
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lap
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D011108:Polymers; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D024801:Tauopathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011108:Polymers; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D016875:tau Proteins; D002392:Catechin