Anti-Amyloid β Aggregation Activity and Cell Viability Effect of Betacyanins from Red Pitahaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) for Alzheimer’s Disease

• Published in: Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht) 2023-09, Vol.78 (3), p.613-619
• Main Authors: Thwe, Pan Nu, Yeong, Keng Yoon, Choo, Wee Sim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid; Amyloid beta-Peptides - chemistry; Amyloid beta-Peptides - metabolism; Betacyanins - chemistry; Betacyanins - pharmacology; Cactaceae - chemistry; Carbonyl compounds; Carbonyls; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell viability; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Correspondence; Cytotoxicity; Ecology; Fluorescence; Food Science; Functional groups; Humans; Hylocereus polyrhizus; Neuroblastoma - pathology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuroprotection; Neurotoxicity; Nutrition; Plant Physiology; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0921-9668; 1573-9104
• DOI: 10.1007/s11130-023-01081-7

Betacyanin-rich extract from red beet ( Beta vulgaris ) was recently reported to inhibit amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation, a main pathological event in Alzheimer’s disease. However, the anti-Aβ aggregation effect of individual betacyanin isolates has not been reported before. This study investigated the anti-Aβ aggregation activity and cytotoxicity of betacyanins from red pitahaya or red dragon fruit ( Hylocereus polyrhizus ). Betacyanin fraction (IC 50  = 16.02 ± 1.15  µ g/mL) and individual betacyanin isolates exhibited anti-Aβ aggregation activity in a concentration-dependent manner using a thioflavin T fluorescence assay. The highest to lowest IC 50 was in the order of betanin (426.30 ± 29.55 µ M), phyllocactin (175.22 ± 1.52 µ M), and hylocerenin (131.73 ± 5.58 µ M), following a trend of increase in functional groups of carboxyl, hydroxyl, and/or carbonyl. Further, the betacyanin fraction of 135.78  µ g/mL and below, which were concentrations with an anti-Aβ aggregation effect, were validated as non-neurotoxic based on an in vitro cytotoxicity assay using human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. These findings highlight the potential neuroprotective activity of betacyanins for Alzheimer’s disease.