The neuroprotective effects of Chinese bayberry leaves proanthocyanidins

Abstract In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of Chinese bayberry leaves proanthocyanidin (BLPs) were investigated by targeting at Aβ fibrillization and neurotoxicity. Two types of BLPs, the Sephadex-LH20 purified BLPs (SPBLPs) and the ultrasound degraded BLPs (UDBLPs) were investigated to identify the potential function to inhibit Aβ fibrillization and neurotoxicity. The result revealed that both BLPs could interfere with self-aggregated Aβ and form a complex, therefore, inhibit Aβ fibrillogenesis, Aβ secondary structure transformation, Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and block the consequent apoptosis through Bcl-2/Bax and caspase signaling pathway. The neuroprotective effect reached its maximum at a dose of 20 μg/mL for both BLPs in the Aβ-induced cytotoxicity model, although the effect of UDBLPs is much stronger than SPBLPs. This is the first reports on the inhibitory effects of BLPs with different mDP on Aβ induced toxicity, and ultrasonic treatments of BLPs can improve its neuroprotection effect.