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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Labeling and Imaging of Amyloid Plaques in Brain Tissue Using the Natural Polyphenol Curcumin
Published on: November 1, 2019
Effect of curcumin on amyloid-like aggregates generated from methionine-oxidized apolipoprotein A-I
Aparna Krishnamoorthy1, Narjes Tavoosi2,3, Gary K L Chan2
1Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology University of California Berkeley CA USA.
Abstract:
Curcumin is a polyphenolic phytonutrient that has antineurodegenerative properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-amyloidogenic properties of curcumin. Following incubation with curcumin, intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence emission of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I was strongly quenched. At the same time, curcumin fluorescence emission was enhanced. The fluorescence emission spectra of curcumin in the presence of amyloid-like aggregates formed by methionine-oxidized (ox) apoA-I varied, depending on whether curcumin was added before, or after, aggregate formation. The impact of curcumin on the structure of the aggregating material was revealed by the lower amount of β-structure in ox-apoA-I amyloid-like aggregates formed in the presence of curcumin, compared to aggregates formed without curcumin. However, the kinetics of ox-apoA-I amyloid-like aggregate formation was not altered by the presence of curcumin. Moreover, electron microscopy analysis detected no discernable differences in amyloid morphology when ox-apoA-I amyloid-like aggregates were formed in the presence or absence of curcumin. In conclusion, curcumin interacts with apoA-I and alters the structure of ox-apoA-I amyloid-like aggregates yet does not diminish the propensity of ox-apoA-I to form aggregates.
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