Ferulic Acid: a Natural Antioxidant Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Oligomeric A-beta on Sea Urchin Embryo

• DOI: 10.1086/bblv224n1p18
• Publication Date: 2016-09-29T20:58:23Z
• Authors: Pasquale Picone; Domenico Nuzzo; Marta Di Carlo
• Keywords: BETA (programming language)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by loss of memory and impairment multiple cognitive functions. Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) the main component amyloid plaques observed in brain individuals affected AD. Oxidative stress mitochondrial dysfunction, induced Aβ, are among earliest events AD, triggering neuronal degeneration cell death. Use natural molecules with antioxidant properties could be suitable strategy for inhibiting death cascade. Here, employing sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus as model system, Aβ oligomers, we tested effectiveness ferulic acid (FA), antioxidant, putative AD neuroprotective compound. By microscopic inspection that FA able to reverse morphological defects oligomers P. embryos. In addition, neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), recover membrane potential, block apoptotic pathways. Moreover, this system has allowed us obtain information about down- or up-regulation some key molecules—Foxo3a, ERK, p53—involved mechanism.