Medicinal Plants: A Natural Chaperones Source for Treating Neurological Disorders

Bernd      Kastenholz; David   E.   Garfin

doi:10.2174/092986609787316234

Abstract

Currently, no pharmaceuticals for the etiological treatment of neurodegenerative protein-misfolding diseases (e.g., ALS, Alzheimers or prion diseases) are available. In this brief communication the development of chaperone-based medications from medicinal plants (e.g., Ginkgo biloba) are reviewed as referred to specific protein-protein interactions of plant metallochaperones and human enzymes. It is indicated that bioactive copper chaperones for superoxide dismutase isolated from medicinal plants may be lead molecules for drug development in several diseases concerning metal ion metabolisms of man and animals.

Keywords: Metallophytochaperones, blood, Alzheimer's disease, plant extracts, CCS, Ginkgo biloba, SOD, apoenzymes, plant molecular farming, metal ion homeostasis