Studies On The Antiapoptotic Effect Of (-) Clausenamide And Its Mechanisms Of Action

Alzheimer's disease is a major cause of disability and death in elderly people.All the factors that causes AD including β -amyloid,reactive oxygen species and low-energy metablism were able to induce apoptosis. Many studies showed that apoptosis is the main mechanism of neuronal loss.There existed DNA breakage,apoptotic body,chromosome aggregation and the changes of related apoptotic gene expression in the AD brain.There is no doubt that apoptosis has taken part in the aetiology and genesis of AD.The damaged neurons means a defect in its protection against injuries.So effective antiapoptotic agents should be developed and be helpful in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.Many investagations have found that the Bax protein plays a crutial role in the apoptotic process.Bax protein can induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria.The released cytochrome c further activates the downstream caspases and then causes apoptosis.There is an increase of Bax expression in Alzheimer's brain.The presenilins and the Bcl-2 family molecules have a complicated interacting relationship. Clausenamide is a new compound isolated from Clausena Lansium Lour Skells,and its structure is similar to Piracetam and now can be synthesized and resoluted into (-) and...