{"id":28899,"date":"2025-09-23T19:01:25","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T23:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/?p=28899"},"modified":"2025-09-23T19:01:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T23:01:25","slug":"study-natural-dye-obtained-from-lichens-may-combat-alzheimers-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/23\/study-natural-dye-obtained-from-lichens-may-combat-alzheimers-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Natural Dye Obtained from Lichens May Combat Alzheimer\u2019s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Alzheimer's<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A red dye derived from lichens that has been used for centuries to color fabrics and food appears to reduce the abundance of small toxic protein aggregates in Alzheimer\u2019s disease. The dye, a compound called orcein, and a related substance, called O4, bind preferentially to small amyloid aggregates that are considered to be toxic and cause neuronal dysfunction and memory impairment in Alzheimer\u2019s disease. O4 binding to small aggregates promotes their conversion into large, mature plaques which researchers assume to be largely non-toxic for neuronal cells.<\/p>\n

Further research with animal models is needed to determine whether this new approach by Dr. Jan Bieschke (Max Delbr\u00fcck Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Berlin-Buch), Dr. Martin Herbst (Charit\u00e9 \u2014 Universit\u00e4tsmedizin Berlin) and Professor Erich Wanker (MDC) in Berlin, Germany, will be useful for therapy development.<\/p>\n

Protein misfolding is considered to be the cause of\u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a>,\u00a0Parkinson\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0and also Huntington\u2019s disease. In a multistep process, proteins misfold and accumulate into large extra- or intracellular plaques. Researchers assume that small misfolded protein aggregates that are precursors of mature plaques are toxic for nerve cells and are the reason why they are eventually destroyed.<\/p>\n

Dye from the Canary Islands<\/strong><\/p>\n

The dye orcein is isolated from lichens that grow on the Canary Islands, among other places. Lichens have been used for centuries to color fabrics and food. Eight years ago Professor Wanker screened hundreds of natural compounds to find potential\u00a0candidate<\/a>\u00a0drug molecules for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Among those substances he found orcein, a compound made up of about 14 small molecules. As these molecules might have different biological effects, the researchers in Berlin began to search for pure chemicals with similar properties. They identified the substance O4, a blue dye, which is structurally very similar to one of the 14 molecules. Moreover, they showed that O4 stimulates the formation of large, non-toxic protein plaques from small toxic protein assemblies.<\/p>\n

New Mechanism<\/strong><\/p>\n

A few years ago Professor Wanker and his colleagues discovered that EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate), a natural chemical compound found in\u00a0green tea<\/a>, renders toxic protein assemblies non-toxic. With orcein and O4 the researchers have now found another mechanism to eliminate small toxic protein aggregates. However, instead of remodeling protein plaques, the dyes reduce the abundance of small, toxic precursor protein assemblies by accelerating the formation of large plaques, as the researchers could now show in their laboratory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a new mechanism,\u201d Professor Wanker explained. \u201cUp to now it has been considered to be very difficult to stop the formation of small toxic protein assemblies. If our hypothesis is correct that the small aggregates, which are precursors of plaques, indeed cause neuronal death, with O4 we would have a new mechanism to attack the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

The synthetic dye methylene blue is currently being tested in clinical trials. This dye also seems to stimulate the formation of large plaques in a way similar to O4. Other therapeutic approaches tested in clinical trials which aim at eliminating small precursor aggregates have so far not led to a significant improvement of disease symptoms.<\/p>\n

However, it still remains to be seen whether the blue dye O4 can also be effective against small amounts of misfolded proteins in the brains of Alzheimer\u2019s patients and whether the accelerated formation of larger plaques can indeed reduce the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s disease in humans. Further studies will be necessary to address the question whether the accelerated formation of large plaques can be a therapeutic approach. \u201cWe hope that our findings will stimulate research activities in this direction, especially in drug discovery,\u201d Professor Wanker said.<\/p>\n

Information Source:\u00a0 materials\u00a0provided by\u00a0Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related Natural Product<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brain Tonic<\/a>\u00a0Tissue Salts is the ideal choice for people with\u00a0concentration<\/a>\u00a0and memory difficulties (including ADHD, ADD,\u00a0dyslexia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a>) as well as for those who are studying or under work\u00a0stress<\/a>. Tissue salts are easy to take, pleasant tasting and even children love to take them! Safe during\u00a0pregnancy<\/a>, nursing and for children and babies of all ages and free of side effects. Regular use ensures systemic balance of biochemic tissue salts in the body, optimizes health at the cellular level, relieves symptoms of disease, restores health and\u00a0vitality<\/a>, optimizes the therapeutic effects of other remedies by improving systemic functioning and\u00a0metabolism<\/a>. Perfect companion to\u00a0Focus Formula<\/a>,\u00a0Focus ADDult<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0MemoRise<\/a>. Formulated by a clinical psychologist,\u00a0Brain Tonic<\/a>\u00a0is pharmacetuically manufactured to the highest standards.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Related Articles<\/h2>\n