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Anti-Amyloid Aggregation Effects of Gobaishi (Galla chinensis) and Its Active Constituents
Sharmin Akter, Takayuki Tohge, Sahithya Hulimane Ananda, Masahiro Kuragano, Kiyotaka Tokuraku, Koji Uwai. Molecules, 2025-06-24
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Alzheimer′s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that leads to memory loss and changes in mental and behavioral functions in elderly individuals. A major pathological feature of AD is the aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, along with oxidative stress, inducing neurocellular apoptosis in the brain. Gobaishi (Galla chinensis), a traditional herbal medicine, has gained considerable attention for its constituents and potent therapeutic properties, particularly its strong inhibitory activity against Aβ fibril formation. In this study, we investigated the anti-Aβ aggregation effects of Gobaishi and its active constituents. We isolated two compounds by employing Thioflavin T (ThT) assay-guided fractionation, which were identified through various spectroscopic methods as pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) and methyl gallate (MG). Evaluation of their anti-Aβ aggregation effects revealed that PGG and MG contribute 1.5% and 0.7% of the activity of Gobaishi, respectively. In addition, PGG demonstrated significantly stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC50 = 1.16 µM) compared to MG (EC50 = 6.44 µM). At a concentration of 30 µM, PGG significantly reduced the Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cell lines compared to MG. Based on these findings, both Gobaishi and its active compound PGG are proposed as promising candidates for further investigation as potent anti-amyloidogenic agents in AD management.
Key findings
- Evaluation of their anti-Aβ aggregation effects revealed that PGG and MG contribute 1.5% and 0.7% of the activity of Gobaishi, respectively.
- In addition, PGG demonstrated significantly stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC50 = 1.16 µM) compared to MG (EC50 = 6.44 µM).
- At a concentration of 30 µM, PGG significantly reduced the Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cell lines compared to MG.
- Based on these findings, both Gobaishi and its active compound PGG are proposed as promising candidates for further investigation as potent anti-amyloidogenic agents in AD management.
Why it matters
In laboratory tests, compounds from the herbal medicine Gobaishi reduced amyloid-beta aggregation and, at 30 µM, pentagalloyl glucose reduced amyloid-beta-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. These are early cell-based findings, and the authors propose the compounds for further investigation rather than as a treatment.
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Study details
- Effect size1.5%; 0.7%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecules) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Molecules: journal h-index 349 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Koji Uwai: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Nara Institute of Science and Technology: institution h-index 501 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40649239) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Akter, S., Tohge, T., Ananda, S. H., Kuragano, M., Tokuraku, K., & Uwai, K. (2025). Anti-Amyloid Aggregation Effects of Gobaishi (Galla chinensis) and Its Active Constituents. Molecules. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30132720
Vancouver
Akter S, Tohge T, Ananda SH, Kuragano M, Tokuraku K, Uwai K. Anti-Amyloid Aggregation Effects of Gobaishi (Galla chinensis) and Its Active Constituents. Molecules. 2025. doi:10.3390/molecules30132720. PMID: 40649239.
BibTeX
@article{akter2025-40649239,
author = {Akter, Sharmin and Tohge, Takayuki and Ananda, Sahithya Hulimane and Kuragano, Masahiro and Tokuraku, Kiyotaka and Uwai, Koji},
title = {{Anti-Amyloid Aggregation Effects of Gobaishi (Galla chinensis) and Its Active Constituents}},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/molecules30132720},
pmid = {40649239},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30132720}
}
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