Natural products targeting Amyloid-β aggregation: spectroscopic and biophysical approaches for Alzheimer’s disease prevention

Due to the increasing life expectancy, neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are becoming more prevalent [1]. Some natural polyphenols, such as flavonoids and catechins, are known for their anti-amyloidogenic and neuroprotective properties [2-4]. Here, myrtle leaf extracts and their phenolic-enriched fractions were prepared and analysed by NMR and LC-HRMS to identify compounds with potential anti-amyloidogenic activity [5], including myricetin and quercetin glycosides, epigallocatechin gallate and ellagic acid. STD NMR, FTIR and AFM analysis of Aβ1-42 in the presence of extracts and fractions revealed a significant alteration in peptide aggregation, one of the main hallmarks of AD. These findings support the potential of polyphenol-rich myrtle extracts as inhibitors of Aβ pathogenic aggregation and their role in AD prevention.