Date palm fruits grown in Oman ameliorate amyloid beta protein induced cytotoxicity

Amyloid-beta-protein (Aβ) is a protein that clusters into amyloid plaques on the blood vessels and on the outside surface of neurons and ultimately leads to neuronal death. Such mechanisms have been postulated to be critical involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Evidences suggest that Aβ heighten free radical production in nerve cells which trigger cell death due to macromolecular oxidations and associated DNA fragmentation. Recently, considerable attention has been focused on a broad range of dietary antioxidants that have been implicated in scavenging free radicals, a process that is likely to be essential for mitigating oxidative stress that are thought to be strongly associated into the development of AD. In consonant with such view, we preliminary data indicate that date palm fruits grown in Oman promote solubility and inhibit in vitro fibrillation of Aβ peptides. The current study aims to analyze the effects of Omani date palm (Fardh variety) on Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells. The present data suggest that Omani date palm fruits have potential to offer protection against Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant mechanism. The underlying biological process for such benefit has yet to be charted and therefore further research are warranted. This was funded by TRC Oman (RC/AGR/FOOD/11/01).