Ten shogaols were synthesized to evaluate the importance of the side-chain length in protecting cells from βA (1-42) insult using PC12 rat pheochromocytoma and IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells. The compounds cell protectivity against βA insult was demonstrated using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. The efficacy of cell protection from βA insult by these shogaols was shown to improve as ...