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Green Tea’s Antioxidant (EGCG) may prove helpful to prevent Alzheimer

A toxic protein amyloid fibrils, which is linked with Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, can be prevented by an antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that found in green tea , a new study suggests.

In patients with Alzheimer this toxic is commonly noted and it is associated to disturb the function of cells. Different methods to prevent the development of amyloid plaque are some ways that have been developed for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer.

According to a German research team the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the tea antioxidant has a powerful anti-plaque ability.

“Small molecules like EGCG can be used to change misfolded structures of a protein into a new kind of molecule that appears less toxic or non-toxic for cells” stated Erich Wanker, lead researcher from the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin.

The findings have been published in the online issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology on May 30.

In Alzheimer and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson, the growth of amyloid plaque is considered to be caused by the unfolding of some proteins that become toxic to cells. The researchers explained that the way proteins fold is the basic factor to their function.

In laboratory experiments, the German team noted that epigallocatechin gallate looked like to convert latent damaging proteins into proteins which are not harmful to brain cells. Wanker said “We can change toxic structure in to less toxic structure”
As EGCG combines to unfolded proteins that are not linked with Alzheimer and this finding can lead to treatments that identify some more problematic proteins an change them into harmless stuff.

It is not known yet that the treatment can also reverse those plaques that have already formed in the brain, Wanker explained.

According to Wanker the study is in its initial stages and he is careful whether to recommend green tea as a treatment to prevent Alzheimer disease. He noted that it a small step and we have to go forward gradually in this connection.