Document Type

Article - pre-print

Publication Date

3-2016

Abstract

The extracts of 27 vegetables, spices and herbs were screened for their functional ability to inhibit the aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, amylin) into toxic amyloid aggregates. The aggregation of IAPP has been directly linked to the death of pancreatic β-islet cells in type 2 diabetes. Inhibiting the aggregation of IAPP is believed to have the potential to slow, if not prevent entirely, the progression of this disease. As vegetables, spices and herbs are known to possess many different positive health effects, the extracts of 27 plants (abundant within the United States and spanning several plant families) were screened for their ability to inhibit the formation of toxic IAPP aggregates. Their anti-amyloid activities were assessed through (1) thioflavin T binding assays, (2) visualization of amyloid fibers using atomic force microscopy and (3) cell rescue studies. From this research, mint, peppermint, red bell pepper and thyme emerged as possessing the greatest anti-amyloid activity.

Publisher Statement

This is an author-manuscript of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Herbal Medicine. The published version of this record is available online at doi: 10.1016/j.hermed.2015.11.001.

Recommended Citation

Fuentes AL, Hennessy K, Pascual J, et al. Identification of Plant Extracts that Inhibit the Formation of Diabetes-Linked IAPP Amyloid. Journal of herbal medicine. 2016;6(1):37-41. doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2015.11.001.

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