Carnosic acid has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. While pure carnosic acid is too unstable for medical use, the new compound developed by scientists from Scripps Research fully converts to carnosic acid in the gut before absorption into the bloodstream. They called the compound 'diAcCA'.
As a part of the study, the researchers tested the compound's efficacy in mouse models for three months. Ultimately, the compound improved learning and memory, and reduced markers of inflammation, formation of amyloid plaques, and phosphorylated tau aggregates.
"By combating inflammation and oxidative stress with this diAcCA compound, we actually increased the number of synapses in the brain. We also took down other misfolded or aggregated proteins such as phosphorylated-tau and amyloid-β, which are thought to trigger Alzheimer's disease and serve as biomarkers of the disease process," said senior author of the study, Prof Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD, of Scripps Research, in a press release.
“We did multiple different tests of memory, and they were all improved with the drug. And it didn’t just slow down the decline; it improved virtually back to normal," he added.
Toxicity studies revealed that the compound is as safe or safer than carnosic acid, which is 'generally regarded as safe' by the FDA. This, wrote the researchers, indicated that diAcCA is safe for use in human trials of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers further found that the compound was 20% more bioavailable than plain carnosic acid.
Lipton sees potential for the compound to work alongside existing Alzheimer's treatments. He hopes the compound can be fast-tracked through clinical trials owing to its safety profile. He additionally thinks the compound may be investigated for treating other conditions linked to inflammation, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Sources: EurekAlert, Antioxidants
