The Polyherbal Wattana Formula Displays Anti-Amyloidogenic Properties by Increasing α-Secretase Activities

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 20;12(1):e0170360. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170360. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the deposition of insoluble amyloid-β peptides produced from the β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP). Because α-secretase cleavage by ADAM10 and ADAM17 takes place in the middle of Aβ, its activation is considered as a promising anti-AD therapeutic track. Here we establish that the polyherbal Wattana formula (WNF) stimulates sAPPα production in cells of neuronal and non-neuronal origins through an increase of both ADAM10 and ADAM17 catalytic activities with no modification of BACE1 activity and expression. This effect is blocked by specific inhibition or genetic depletion of these disintegrins and we show that WNF up-regulates ADAM10 transcription and ADAM17 maturation. In addition, WNF reduces Aβ40 and Aβ42 generation in human cell lines. Altogether, WNF presents all the characteristics of a potent preventive anti-Alzheimer formula. Importantly, this natural recipe, currently prescribed to patients for the treatment of other symptoms without any secondary effect, can be tested immediately for further clinical studies.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Herbal Medicine*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) grant number P-10-11285 (PG, BV) and grant number P-11-00783 (BV); http://www.nstda.or.th/eng/index.php; the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) grant number IRG 5780009 (BV); http://www.trf.or.th/eng/index.php; and Mahidol University budget grant 2014 (BV); https://www.mahidol.ac.th/en/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.