Potential role of nobiletin in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. At present, there is no specific drugs for the prevention and treatment of AD, so it is urgent to find natural products contributing to alleviation of AD. Nobiletin is one of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) extracted mainly from citrus peels. Nobiletin has multiple bioactivities, good bioavailability and low side effects. Studies have shown that nobiletin improves cognitive impairment and pathological features in animal models of AD and exerts neuroprotective effects. In addition, 5-demethylnobiletin (5-DN), the main derivative of nobiletin, achieves neuroprotection through anti-inflammatory, neurotrophic and cholinergic effects for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Other PMFs (for example tangeretin) also have the potential to prevent neurodegenerative diseases due to their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects similar to nobiletin. Taken together, PMFs, including nobiletin, have potential as therapeutic agents for AD.