Ameliorative Effect of Novel Vitamin Formula with Herbal Extracts on Scopolamine-Induced Alzheimer's Disease

One of the main focuses within the field of neuroscience is in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). With millions of people affected worldwide, a great deal of research has been directed towards understanding the biological and molecular causes of the disease in hopes of developing an effective treatment against it. To date, a variety of different factors have been attributed to the development of dementia, a precursor to AD. The accumulation of senile plaques (Aβ protein) and neurofibrillary tangles along with a decline in cholinergic neurotransmission in the brain have been identified as potential causes alongside the role of oxidative stress and inflammation. Altered levels of pro-inflammatory chemokine molecules have also been attributed to the pathology of AD. Treatments to date have not been deemed sufficient largely because of their decreased efficacy over time, adverse side effects, ineffectiveness against some long-term complications, and low cost effectiveness. Tackling these issues was the key focus of a study conducted by Lee et al. at the Life Science R&D Center in South Korea.

The team of researchers developed a novel treatment, VDDS, which contains CoQ₁₀, complex B vitamins, Vitamin C and herbal extracts from green tea and gingko. CoQ₁₀ has proven to be an effective antioxidant that is well tolerated by humans. Additionally, extracts of green tea and gingko were used because of their worldwide popularity and role in helping to reverse oxidative stress and reduce acetylcholinesterase activity in a streptozotocin-induced model of dementia. This has largely been attributed to their ability to reduce oxidative damage and stimulate cell survival machinery. One of the key ways of testing the effectiveness of this treatment was to closely monitor acetylcholinesterase activity, a process closely related to neural degeneration. To facilitate the analysis, Lee and his team used the Amplite^® Colorimetric Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Assay Kit. The kit uses DTNB to measure thiocholine produced from the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine by AChE in blood, in cell extracts and other solutions. It allows for remarkably accurate results and readings largely because of its ability to generate results for AChE quantities as small as.1 mU in a 100 µL assay volume. This level of precision allows researchers to accurately measure the effect the drug might have on AD, which helps bolster findings and improve reliability.

The results from the study were profound, as VDDS showed a synergistic neuroprotective effect and also noticeably inhibited the onset of AD. This marks a huge advancement in the search for a cure for AD by demonstrating the effectiveness of VDDS as a step forward in producing effective treatments. One of the things allowing researchers to declare these results was the accuracy of their measurements. By using the Amplite^® Colorimetric Acetylcholinesterase Assay Kit, researchers were able to closely and reliably measure acetylcholinesterase activity, which allowed them to confidently interpret their results. Since the results of this study stand to make waves in the medical community, it is important the tools used produce quality measurements. In this case, the results' validity stands to improve the lives of millions in years to come.

References

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1. Lee, J. M., et al. "Ameliorative effect of novel vitamin formula with herbal extracts on scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's disease." Asian J Pharm Clin Res 6.2 (2013): 175-9.