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A natural compound found in the leaves and branches of pomegranate is capable of destroying dangerous protein aggregates associated with transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis — a severe disease affecting the nervous system and heart. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from Kumamoto University, who published the results of their work in the journal iScience.

Transthyretin amyloidosis leads to the accumulation of an abnormal protein — amyloid — in body tissues. This causes serious damage to the peripheral nervous system, heart, kidneys, and other organs. Symptoms include shortness of breath during physical exertion, episodes of dizziness, heart failure, and chronic pain.

In the search for new ways to combat the disease, researchers analyzed over 1,500 plant extracts. The most effective among them turned out to be the compound 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG), found in pomegranate. Under laboratory conditions, PGG destroyed amyloid fibrils of both mutant and wild-type transthyretin, while leaving other proteins unaffected.

Experiments on nematodes showed impressive results: the compound reduced the amount of protein deposits and increased the organisms' lifespan. Moreover, PGG successfully destroyed amyloid fibrils isolated from the cardiac tissue of patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, indicating its potential clinical significance.

The scientists also managed to uncover PGG's mechanism of action. Its activity is due to the features of its molecular structure: the so-called "branches" of chemical groups — galloyl groups — attached to the core molecule allow the compound to firmly bind to pathogenic proteins and destroy them.

The authors of the study emphasize that before PGG can be used in humans, additional research into its safety and efficacy is needed. Nevertheless, in the future, plant-derived molecules could form the basis of next-generation therapy — one that does not merely stabilize proteins but actively destroys pathogenic protein aggregates.