English: Indian frankincense, Salai or SALLAKI Boswellia serrata in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease of the brain. In AD a tangled protein called amyloid is formed in brain cells and regulated by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymes, which are inflammatory. This 5-LO enzyme pathway is involved in several inflammatory processes, such as arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and aging of the brain. Patients with AD have higher levels of 5-LO than normal patients.
This study showed that the amount of amyloid in brain tissue depends on the amount of 5-LO enzyme, both in vivo and in vitro. The evidence supports a link between 5-LO and neurodegenerative diseases. Of significance, inhibition of 5-LO may be a treatment for AD.
CONCLUSION: Inhibition of 5-LO enzyme may be a beneficial treatment in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by the blocking of the formation of amyloid.
NOTE: There are 5-LO inhibitors in plant extracts, such as Boswellia serrata, curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa), and silymarin from milk thistle (Silybum marianum).
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PMID: 21280074.
Summary #685.
