| |
| author |
Budoor Al-Aydi
| | title |
The Effects of Natural Supplements on the Growth and Development of Primary Cortical Neurons in a Model of Alzheimer's Disease
| | abstract |
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition driven by several
pathological processes, including the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques, abnormal tau
protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, and synaptic dysfunction. Current
pharmacological treatments provide only modest symptomatic relief, as well as heavy financial
burden, highlighting the urgent need for alternative and complementary therapeutic approaches.
Recent trends towards holistic health have led to increased use of natural supplements for
treating various conditions, many of which originate from cultural traditional medicines used for
millennia. Although many supplements are praised for their health benefits, they often remain
understudied and lack comprehensive research on their mechanistic and molecular effects. This
thesis explores the neuroprotective potential of three natural supplements–ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera), ginkgo biloba, and olive leaf extract–in a cell culture model of AD.
Experiments were conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of the supplements and their
ability to mitigate the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and amyloid-beta toxicity. Our
experimental results revealed that formulations of treatment with ashwagandha, ginkgo biloba,
and olive leaf extract were generally tolerable to cells, either maintaining or improving the health
of neurons. Preliminary findings also suggest that all three supplements in isolation and in
combination could encourage increased cell survival while under AD stress-like conditions.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2025)
|
| advisor |
Roger Knowles
|
| full text | BAl-Aydi.pdf |
| |
