A search for a possible candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases through the evaluation of blueberry extract (Vaccinum spp.) In view of the damage caused by the Aβ peptide.

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a fruit that has several medicinal properties such as antimicrobial, anti-aging, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, being studied for the treatment of diseases. Due mainly the anthocyanins found in the fruit becomes a promising candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The main mechanism described for DA is the presence of senile plaques due formed peptide (Aβ) aggregates, resulting in neurodegeneration. Searching for a therapeutic candidate for this disease, we used the Caenorhabdits elegans (C. elegans) model, a short-lived nematode that is easy to grow and capable of expressing genes homologous in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of blueberry fruits against the damage caused by the peptide. The strains were N2 (wild type) and GMC101 which expresses the human Aβ peptide at high temperatures. Concentrations of 5, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µg EAG/mL were used and survival, longevity and paralysis in both strains were evaluated. None of the tested concentrations of the extract were able to extend the longevity of GMC101 worms, but in the N2 wild animals, two concentrations showed significantly promising results. Also, we observed that the extract of blueberry did not show toxicity in C.elegans, because it did not alter the survival rate of the animals. In addition, extract at higher doses contributed to the reduction of the paralysis rate in the GMC101 strain and, consequently, to the effects caused by the peptide, demonstrating to improve the animals survival. So far our results have been promising, but further studies will be needed to find out the ways in which the antioxidant effect of blueberries plays a protective role against neurodegeneration and may in the future be a possible candidate in studies of the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases as AD.