title: Apple Procyanidins Suppress Amyloid β-Protein Aggregation.
abstract: Procyanidins (PCs) are major components of the apple polyphenols (APs). We previously reported that treatment with PC extended the mean lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (Sunagawa et al., 2011). In order to estimate the neuroprotective effects of PC, we investigated the antiaggregative activity of PC on amyloid β-protein (Aβ) aggregation, which is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. We herein report that PC significantly suppressed Aβ42 aggregation and dissociated Aβ42 aggregates in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that PC is a potent suppressor of Aβ aggregation. Furthermore, PC significantly inhibited Aβ42 neurotoxicity and stimulated proliferation in PC-12 cells. These results suggested that the PC and AP acted as neuroprotective factors against toxic Aβ aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Gerontology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sunagawa
authors.forename: Tomomasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagashira
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirasawa
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu