Potential Weapons of Confrontation Alzheimer’s disease Scientists recently discovered that it may be hidden in aloe vera.

Aloe vera, a rubbery green plant, may be best known for its skin-soothing benefits, but a study published in Current Drug Analysis suggests that key chemicals in the plant may interact with enzymes involved in Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a new way to disrupt cognitive impairment.

A chemical messenger called acetylcholine, which helps nerve cells communicate, is reduced in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline, according to a research news release.

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Two enzymes in the brain (cholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) play important roles in breaking down acetylcholine. Slow down medicine These enzymes can sometimes help protect chemical messengers and improve patients’ symptoms.

Scientists use computer simulations to study this process and predict how the molecules will behave in the body.

Researchers have found that specific compounds in aloe vera, specifically beta-sitosterol, can interact with brain enzymes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)

“Our results show that beta-sitosterol, one of the aloe vera compounds, exhibits significant binding affinity and stability, making it a promising candidate for further research. drug development“, Meriem Khedraoui, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the University of Casablanca in Morocco, said in a press release.

Beta-sitosterol binds to key enzymes more strongly than any other compound tested in computer simulations. This suggests the compound can effectively slow down these enzymes, the researchers noted.

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Khedraoui added: “These results highlight the potential of beta-sitosterol as a dual inhibitor, which is critical for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”

The team then examined the compound’s safety to see if it could used as medicine future. The compound has been shown to be well absorbed by the body and is unlikely to be toxic at therapeutic levels.

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“Comprehensive analyzes support the potential of these compounds to be safe and effective therapeutic agent“, said Samir Chtita, another author of the study from the University of Casablanca, in the same press release.

potential limitations

The researchers acknowledge that the work is still in its early stages because the results rely solely on computer simulations rather than real-world examples.

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“Because aloe vera supplements are often sold over the counter, and there have been no studies done to verify their use. people with alzheimer’s disease or other conditions that cause dementia or memory loss/cognitive decline, consumers need to be wary of any treatment claims made based on these results,” Dr. Christopher Weber, senior director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, told Fox News Digital.

Experts cautioned that the study relied on computer models and has not yet been validated in human clinical trials. (iStock)

Inhibiting cholinesterase in the brain does not slow or stop brain cell death Weber, who was not involved in the study, noted that this could lead to Alzheimer’s disease and other damage.

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“So even if these findings later prove successful in human studies, this would not be a ‘disease-modifying’ treatment,” he added.

Further testing in laboratory experiments and clinical trials is needed to confirm the drug’s efficacy.

Preliminary safety analyzes indicate that the plant-based compound is well absorbed by the body and may be non-toxic at therapeutic levels. (in stock)

“There are many treatments in various stages of development—from lab work and animal models to human clinical trials—that could address these diseases in a variety of ways,” Weber said.

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He suggested that those concerned about cognitive symptoms should consult a doctor. More information is also available on the Alzheimer’s Association website, www.alz.org.