Figure 6.

Effects of anthocyanins on protein dysregulation and homeostasis. Protein homeostasis is disrupted in several ways in neurodegenerative disease. Increased levels of ER stress cause significant decreases in protein trafficking to other organelles such as the Golgi apparatus. Decreased protein trafficking results in accumulation of misfolded and mutant proteins, causing protein aggregates to form. Formation of these toxic aggregates then contributes to induction of neuronal apoptosis. Anthocyanins modulate this process by reducing ER stress, directly inhibiting the formation of toxic protein aggregates, and stimulating autophagy processes to clear aggregates formed within the neuron.