Old age-associated phenotypic screening for Alzheimer's disease drug candidates identifies sterubin as a potent neuroprotective compound from Yerba santa

• DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.101089
• Publication Date: 2018-12-20T21:34:19Z
• Authors: Wolfgang Fischer; Antonio Currais; Zhibin Liang; Antonio Pinto; Pamela Maher
• Keywords: Phenotypic screening; Neurotoxicity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent age-associated dementia with no treatments that can prevent or slow its progression. Since age by far major risk factor for AD, there a strong rationale an alternative approach to drug discovery based upon biology of aging. Phenotypic screening assays reflect multiple, neurotoxicity pathways rather than single molecular targets identify compounds have therapeutic efficacy targeting aspects aging contribute AD pathology. And, while suitability any assay be questioned, combination make reliable predictions about neuroprotective effects in vivo. Therefore, our lab has developed phenotypic are ideally suited not only novel treatment but also their target pathways, thereby potentially providing new treatment. Using these assays, we screened large library extracts from plants identified pharmacological uses. Analysis one plant Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) flavanone sterubin as active component and further studies showed it potent anti-inflammatory compound.