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TRADITIONAL
MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE
8
th
International Conference on
J u l y 2 3 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 | R o m e , I t a l y
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|
ISSN: 2591-7951
|
Volume 2
Traditional 2018
Note:
Page 21
allied
academies
Anat Elmann, Arch Gen Intern Med 2018, Volume 2 | DOI: 10.4066/2591-7951-C1-001
HARNESSING PHYTOCHEMICALS TO
SUPPORT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
O
xidative stress and amyloid beta toxicity are involved in the pathogenesis
of Alzheimer’s diseases. We have previously demonstrated that an extract
prepared of the plant
Achillea fragrantissima
(Af)
protected cultured brain
astrocytes from oxidative stress-induced cell death and down regulated
microglial activation. Using activity guided fractionation, we have purified
from
Af
an active flavonoid named 3, 5, 4’-trihydroxy-6, 7, 3’-trimethoxyflavone
(TTF). TTF protected cultured astrocytes from H
2
O
2
–induced cell death via
interference with cell signaling (inhibition of SAPK/JNK, ERK 1/2, and MEK1
phosphorylation) and by reducing the levels of oxidative stress-induced
intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mechanism of the protective
effect of TTF against H
2
O
2
-cytotoxicity could not be attributed to a direct H
2
O
2
scavenging but rather to the scavenging of free radicals as was shown in cell
free systems. In addition, TTF protected cultured neuronal cells from amyloid
beta cytotoxicity via interference with cell signaling events and by reducing
the amyloid beta-induced levels of intracellular ROS. Moreover, TTF exhibited
anti-inflammatory activities and inhibited the LPS-elicited secretion of the
proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1beta from microglial
cells. Our results suggest that TTF might be a therapeutic candidate for the
treatment of Alzheimer’s disease as well as other neurodegenerative diseases
where oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and amyloid beta toxicity are part
of the pathophysiology.
Biography
Anat Elmann is a Research Scientist at the Depart-
ment of Food Quality and Safety in the Volcani Cen-
ter, Agricultural Research Organization. She got
her PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science,
gained experience as a Researcher in a biotech
company, and from the last 12 years she has been
studying the effect of plant derived substances on
glial and neuronal cells, which play important roles
in neurodegenerative diseases and aging. She has
presented her work at many different internation-
al conferences in Europe and USA, and she is the
author of patents and papers on subjects includ-
ing Neurobiology, Immunology, and the effects of
phytochemicals and plant extracts on glial and
neuronal cells.
aelmann@volcani.agri.gov.ilAnat Elmann
Agricultural Research Organization
Volcani Center, Israel