Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria in the intestinal micro-flora may produce neurotoxins such as Beta-N-Methylamino-l-Alanine (BMAA) which may be related to development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson-Dementia-Complex in humans and Equine Motor Neuron Disease in Horses

摘要

Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria (CB) are the source of Beta-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxin found in the brains of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer Disease (AD), and Parkinson-Dementia-Complex (PDC) [1]. BMAA acts through multiple mechanisms including the N-Methyl-D-Asparate (NMDA) receptor, Glutamate 5 receptor and oxidative stress, in the nervous system [1]. A similar disease to ALS occurs in horses, Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND), when they are deficient in Vitamin E and restricted from fresh pasturage [2].