The Effect of Valeton (Zingiberaceae) Extract on Prion Propagation in Cell-Based and Animal Models.

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders in humans and animals for which no therapies are currently available. Here, we report that Valeton (Zingiberaceae) () extract was partly effective in decreasing prion aggregation and propagation in both in vitro and in vivo models. extract inhibited self-aggregation of recombinant prion protein (PrP) in a test tube assay and decreased the accumulation of scrapie PrP (PrP) in ScN2a cells, a cultured neuroblastoma cell line with chronic prion infection, in a concentration-dependent manner.

Self-Assembling Peptides and Their Application in the Treatment of Diseases.

Self-assembling peptides are biomedical materials with unique structures that are formed in response to various environmental conditions. Governed by their physicochemical characteristics, the peptides can form a variety of structures with greater reactivity than conventional non-biological materials. The structural divergence of self-assembling peptides allows for various functional possibilities; when assembled, they can be used as scaffolds for cell and tissue regeneration, and vehicles for drug delivery, conferring controlled release, stability, and targeting, and avoiding side effects of drugs.