Effect of flavonoids on the Aβ(25-35)-phospholipid bilayers interaction

Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is the major component of amyloid deposits found in the brain tissue of Alzheimer patients. The tendency of amyloid peptide to form amyloid plaques is known to be related to the features of the plasma membrane.Flavonoids, a group of naturally occurring molecules, exert beneficial properties to human health thanks to their antioxidant property; this property depends on their capacity to interact and permeate the cell membrane lipid bilayer.In the present research we report an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) investigation of 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) membranes interacting with the β-amyloid fragment Aβ(25-35), in the presence of flavonoids rutin, quercetin, naringin and naringenin. Our results, evidencing a flavonoid-dependent rigidifying effect of the bilayer, may provide the molecular basis to explain the known neuroprotective effect of flavonoid compounds.

The effect of several flavonoids on the interaction Aβ(25-35)-phospholipid bilayer is studied by means of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy. The results provide a molecular explanation of the known neuroprotective effect of flavonoids. Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide