ABSTRACT
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the primary cause of dementia affecting millions each year across the world, though still remains incurable. This might be attributed to the lack of knowledge about the associated proteins, their cellular and molecular mechanisms, and the genesis of the disease. The discovery of drugs that earlier revolved around targeting the amyloid-ß cascade has now been reformed with the upgraded knowledge of the cross-seeding ability of tau protein which opens new gateways for therapeutic targets. This article provides a comprehensive review of various direct and indirect connecting pathways between the two main proteins involved in development and progression of AD, enabling us to further expand our repertoire of information regarding the etiology of AD. The current review indicates the need for extensive research in this niche, thus considerable advances can be made in understanding AD which eventually helps to improve the current therapeutics against AD.
ABSTRACT
In the present study we evaluated the presence of cysteine protease from the latex of four plants Asclepias curassavica L., Calotropis gigantea R.Br., Pergularia extensa R.Br. and Cynanchum puciflorum R.Br. belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. Cysteine proteases from these plants latex exhibited both thrombin and plasmin like activities. Latex enzyme fraction in a concentration dependent manner induced the formation of clot in citrated blood plasma. Direct incubation of fibrinogen with latex enzyme fraction resulted in the formation of fibrin clot similar to thrombin enzyme. However prolonged incubation resulted in degradation of the formed fibrin clot suggesting plasmin like activity. Latex enzyme fraction preferentially hydrolyzed Aalpha and Bbeta chains of fibrinogen to form fibrin clot. Latex enzyme fraction also hydrolyzed the subunits of fully cross linked fibrin efficiently, the order of hydrolysis was alpha-polymer > alpha-chains > beta-chain and gamma-gamma dimer. Cysteine proteases from all the four Asclepiadaceae plants latex exhibited similar action on fibrinogen and fibrin. This study scientifically validate the use of plant latex in stop bleeding and wound healing by traditional healers all over the world.
