Beetroots could help in fight against Alzheimer’s
Beetroots could help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
Betanin, which gives beetroot its distinctive red colour, may suppress chemical changes linked to the death of neurons.
Scientist hope that a drug based on the compound could be developed to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Study author Dr Li-June Ming, from the University of South Florida, said: “Our data suggest that betanin, a compound in beet extract, shows some promise as an inhibitor of certain chemical reactions in the brain that are involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
“This is just a first step, but we hope that our findings will encourage other scientists to look for structures similar to betanin that could be used to synthesise drugs that could make life a bit easier for those who suffer from this disease.”
Co-author Darrell Cerrato, also from the University of South Florida, said: "We can't say that betanin stops the misfolding completely, but we can say that it reduces oxidation.
"Less oxidation could prevent misfolding to a certain degree, perhaps even to the point that it slows the aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides, which is believed to be the ultimate cause of Alzheimer's."