A comparative evaluation of polyphenols from virgin coconut oil against EGR-1 for memory consolidation and reconsolidation in Alzheimer’s disease
Author(s): Vinu Varghese and Dhanya Mol T Saraswathy
Abstract: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) possesses antioxidant properties that may help to manage Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent kind of dementia and an incurable neurodegenerative disease marked by progressive synaptic dysfunction, neuronal death, and cognitive decline. When mitochondria are severely damaged, the antioxidant defense lowers, which increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that further damage mitochondria and increase the generation of free radicals. Additionally, altered mitochondrial function, dysregulated electron transport chain, and other sources elevate aggregated Aβ and neurofibrillary tangles, which further stimulate the production of ROS, reducing or depleting the antioxidant capacity. When a learning experience is retrieved, the memory becomes labile and needs time for protein synthesis to stabilize before being reconsolidated into a fixed state. The main signalling pathways that OS-induced AD involves, as well as the medications that are being developed to target these pathways in the hopes of advancing AD treatment. The C. auratus were trained with and without anisomycin (ANI), a brain protein synthesis inhibitor (PSI) for behaviour and spatial memory analysis. Polyphenols found in VCO were analysed in silico against EGR-1, an enzyme required for memory consolidation and reconsolidation showed significant binding affinity during molecular docking studies. In another independent investigation, oral VCO administration did not result in any appreciable harm, including behavioural abnormalities in rat models. Consequently, more investigations including clinical studies is required to ascertain the biological efficiency of the oils for the AD management by targeting EGR1 through the best candidate polyphenol identified (Myrystin 3-o glucoside) in silico.
