Synthesis and bioassay of β-(1,4)-D-mannans as potential agents against Alzheimer's disease.

Aim: Oligomannurarate 971 derived from a marine plant has shown neuroprotective effects. In this study we synthesized a series of truncated derivatives of the oligosaccharide, and investigated the effect of these derivatives against Aβ peptide toxicity in vitro.

Methods: The sulfoxide method was applied to synthesize the derivatives.