A natural molecule against Down syndrome deficits

A plant-based molecule , polydatin , helps reduce oxidative stress and restore proper energy metabolism in cells in Down syndrome , a disease caused by the presence of a triple copy (trisomy) of chromosome 21. This has been demonstrated by experiments conducted on cells in test tubes at the Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnology of the National Research Council of Bari (Cnr-Ibiom). The results, published in the journal 'Free Radical Biology and Medicine', suggest that food supplements based on polydatin could be used in early childhood to prevent some neurological disorders associated with Down syndrome.

The study was conducted on cells from spontaneous abortions of fetuses, partly characterized by trisomy 21 and partly healthy, that is, free of chromosomal alterations. The experimentation has demonstrated that polydatin reactivates the activity of the 'power plants' of the cells , the mitochondria, and reduces the excessive production of oxygen radicals . Furthermore , it can prevent DNA damage and cellular aging caused by oxidative stress induced by external stimuli: this preventive activity occurs both in cells with Down syndrome and in healthy cells.

“Polydatin, a polyphenol extracted from the Polygonum cuspidatum plant that has been used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries, has been at the center of our studies for some time, as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are already known : that is, it helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that accelerate aging and disease,” says the study coordinator, Rosa Anna Vacca.

“The idea is to use it as a food supplement to manage some of the symptoms of Down syndrome , to be administered in early childhood. Although there are several natural compounds of plant origin that are currently proposed in the treatment of the pathology, we are convinced that polydatin could become an ideal candidate for future clinical applications related to the prevention of disorders associated with the syndrome: it has in fact been shown to have no toxic side effects , and in addition it is stable, water-soluble, and is better distributed in our body. Furthermore, it is a precursor of resveratrol, another natural compound known for its beneficial effects, in particular as an adjuvant in the treatment of neurological diseases”.