A systematic review of carbohydrate-based bioactive molecules for Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

The abundance, low cost, high density of functional groups and ease of purification of carbohydrates are among the most important features that make them a prime candidate for designing therapeutics. Several carbohydrate-based molecules, of both natural and synthetic origin, are known for their wide range of therapeutic activities. The incorporation of a carbohydrate moiety not only retains the pharmacological characteristics of a molecule but also improves its activity. Several sugar conjugates have been designed and reported to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, β-amyloid and tau aggregation. This systematic review provides a brief overview of carbohydrate-based bioactive molecules having anti-Alzheimer’s activity along with improved therapeutic potential. Most importantly, several reported carbohydrate-based molecules for Alzheimer’s disease act on β-amyloid aggregation, tau protein, cholinesterase and oxidative stress, with enhanced pharmacokinetic and mechanistic properties. The prospect of designing carbohydrate-based molecules for Alzheimer’s disease will definitely provide potential opportunities to discover novel carbohydrate-based drugs.