Quercetin Nanoconjugates for Anti-Alzheimer’s Activity: An Investigation on Drosophila melanogaster Model

Neurodegenerative disorders have long existed with few to no methods to cure them. One such disorder is Alzheimer’s, which implies the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques in the nervous system. Recently, nanotechnology has been under use for the treatment of several disorders. Especially the use of phytochemicals in their nanoformulations is preferred. Quercetin, a phytochemical, when conjugated with polyvinylpyrrolidone, is expected to show a neuroprotective effect due to its anti-oxidative properties. In this study, the Aβ42 mutant of Drosophila melanogaster is used to analyse the impact and quantify the appropriate concentration at which the most enhanced effect of quercetin and Q-PVP is obtained. The improvement in the motor activity of the mutants was studied by crawling and climbing experiments. The mutants have a characteristic small, narrow and dark pigmented eye with abnormal structure in specific regions. The eye phenotype changes are considered as a parameter to justify the amyloid disintegration. Thioflavin T staining was also used to detect amyloid clearance or disintegration in the treated mutants’ eyes and brains. The current study suggests that quercetin can degrade the amyloid plaque in the Aβ42 mutant of D. melanogaster.