Patent ID: 7053116

Claim:
A method of blocking amyloid toxicity in cells, said method comprising contacting said cells with an effective amount of at least one phenyl benzopyranone compound having Structure II, as follows: or enantiomers, diastereomeric isomers or mixtures of any two or more thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: each X is independently OH, SH or NH 2 ; X′ is H, SH, NH 2 or OR, wherein R is H or lower alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl; Y′ is H, OH, SH, or NH 2 ; and Z is H, OH, SH or NH 2 ; provided, however, that at least one of Z and Y′ is H, or Z is absent when ring 3 is attached at the 3-position of ring 2 .