Antioxidant fights ALS

Salk Institute scientists have used the first human model of Lou Gehrig's disease built with human embryonic stem cells to determine that a well-known antioxidant in plants fights off the nerve cell death that occurs in the disease.

The antioxidant stopped the oxidation and inflammation that cause the death of the cells, known as motor neurons, according to the work published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

The work of the San Diego scientists could aid in the discovery of other molecules that might prevent the neuron death that occurs in the spinal column and usually makes the degenerative disease fatal.

The antioxidant apocynin, which is found in many plants, stopped both oxidation and inflammation, protecting the motor neuron from death, according to the journal article.

The team is now testing other molecules for both anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties, Gage said.

Meanwhile, it will use apocynin in mouse models of ALS to see if it helps the animal survive, he said.