Vinpocetine prevents rotenone-induced Parkinson disease motor and non-motor symptoms through attenuation of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and α-synuclein expressions in rats

Ribose-cysteine and levodopa abrogate Parkinsonism via the regulation of neurochemical and redox activities in alpha-synuclein transgenic Drosophila melanogaster models

Parkinson's disease (PD), the most prevalent type of parkinsonism, is a progressive neurodegenerative condition marked by several non-motor and motor symptoms. PD is thought to have a complex aetiology that includes a combination of age, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. Increased expression of α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein is central to the evolvement of neuropathology in this devastating disorder, but the potential of ribose-cysteine and levodopa in abating pathophysiologic changes in PD model is unknown. Crosses were set up between flies conditionally expressing a pathological variant of human α-Syn (UAS-α-Syn) and those expressing GAL4 in neurons (elav-GAL4) to generate offspring referred to as PD flies. Flies were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 40) from the total population of flies, with each group having five replicates. Groups of PD flies were treated with either 500 mg/kg ribose-cysteine diet, 250 mg/kg levodopa diet, or a combination of the two compounds for 21 days, whereas the control group (w1118) and the PD group were exposed to a diet without ribose-cysteine or levodopa. In addition to various biochemical and neurochemical assays, longevity, larval motility, and gravitaxis assays were carried out. Locomotive capability, lifespan, fecundity, antioxidant state, and neurotransmitter systems were all significantly (p < 0.05) compromised by overexpression of α-Syn. However, flies treated both ribose cysteine and levodopa showed an overall marked improvement in motor functions, lifespan, fecundity, antioxidant status, and neurotransmitter system functions. In conclusion, ribose-cysteine and levodopa, both singly and in combination, potentiated a therapeutic effect on alpha-synuclein transgenic Drosophila melanogaster models of Parkinsonism.

Molecular mechanisms underlying methotrexate-induced intestinal injury and protective strategies

Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid reductase inhibitor that manages various malignancies as well as immune-mediated inflammatory chronic diseases. Despite being frequently prescribed, MTX's severe multiple toxicities can occasionally limit its therapeutic potential. Intestinal toxicity is a severe adverse effect associated with the administration of MTX, and patients are significantly burdened by MTX-provoked intestinal mucositis. However, the mechanism of such intestinal toxicity is not entirely understood, mechanistic studies demonstrated oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions as key factors that lead to the development of MTX-induced intestinal injury. Besides, MTX causes intestinal cells to express pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which activate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). This is followed by the activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of the transcription3 (JAK/STAT3) signaling pathway. Moreover, because of its dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) has been considered a critical signaling pathway that counteracts oxidative stress in MTX-induced intestinal injury. Several agents have potential protective effects in counteracting MTX-provoked intestinal injury such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, taurine, umbelliferone, vinpocetine, perindopril, rutin, hesperidin, lycopene, quercetin, apocynin, lactobacillus, berberine, zinc, and nifuroxazide. This review aims to summarize the potential redox molecular mechanisms of MTX-induced intestinal injury and how they can be alleviated. In conclusion, studying these molecular pathways might open the way for early alleviation of the intestinal damage and the development of various agent plans to attenuate MTX-mediated intestinal injury.

The ameliorative effect of vinpocetine against gentamicin-induced uterine-injury in rats involves the inflammasome/caspase-1/IL-1β pathway

BACKGROUND

There is limited data regarding the hazardous effect of gentamicin (GM) on the uterus and whether or not vinpocetine (Vinpo) ameliorates it. The present study aimed to identify the possible protective effect of Vinpo in GM-induced uterine injury in rats.

METHODS

Female rats were assorted in control-group, Vinpo-group, GM-group, and Vinpo plus GM group. Serum and uterine GM concentration were measured. Uterine oxidative stress parameters besides inflammatory and apoptotic biomarkers were evaluated. Uterine histopathological examination and interlukin-1beta (IL-1β) immune-histochemical study were detected.

RESULTS

GM significantly increased uterine oxidative stress, inflammatory and apoptotic biomarkers. Histopathological picture of uterine damage and increased IL-1β immunoexpression were detected. Vinpo significantly ameliorated the distributed GM concentration, oxidative stress, inflammatory and apoptotic biomarkers with a prompt improvement in histopathological picture and a decrease in IL-1β immunoexpression.

CONCLUSION

Vinpo protective effect against GM-induced uterine injury involves modulation of inflammasome/caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway.

Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp seeds extract prevents rotenone-induced motor- and non-motor features of Parkinson disease in mice: Insight into mechanisms of neuroprotection

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp (Fabaceae) seed decoction is used by traditional healers in Nigeria as nerve tonic, hence, could be beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disease that imposes great burden on the healthcare system globally.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed at investigating the neuroprotective effect of ethanol seed extract of Cajanus cajan (CC) in the treatment of rotenone-induced motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms associated with PD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To assess the protective action of CC on rotenone-induced motor- and non-motor symptoms of PD, mice were first pretreated with CC (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) an hour before oral administration of rotenone (1 mg/kg, p.o, 0.5% in carboxyl-methylcellulose) for 28 consecutive days and weekly behavioural tests including motor assessment (open field test (OFT), rotarod, pole and cylinder tests) and non-motor assessment (novel object recognition (NOR), Y-maze test (YM), forced swim and tail suspension, gastric emptying and intestinal fluid accumulation tests) were carried out. The animals were euthanized on day 28 followed by the collection of brain for assessment of oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and immunohistochemical analysis of the striatum (STR) and substantia nigra (SN). Phytochemicals earlier isolated from CC were docked with protein targets linked with PD pathology such as; catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Leucine rich receptor kinase (LRRK).

RESULTS

this study showed that CC significantly reduced rotenone-induced spontaneous motor impairment in OFT, pole, cylinder and rotarod tests in mice as well as significant improvement in non-motor features (significant reversal of rotenone-induced deficits discrimination index and spontaneous alternation behaviour in NORT and YM test, respectively, reduction in immobility time in forced swim/tail suspension test, gastrointestinal disturbance in intestinal transit time in mice. Moreso, rotenone-induced neurodegeneration, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation were significantly attenuated by CC administration. In addition, docking analysis showed significant binding affinity of CC phytochemicals with COMT, TH and LRRK2 receptors.

CONCLUSION

Cajanus cajan seeds extract prevented both motor and non-motor features of Parkinson disease in mice through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Hence, could be a potential phytotherapeutic adjunct in the management of Parkinson disease.

Vinpocetine improves dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease rats by reducing oxidative stress and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the commonest neurodegenerative disorder. It reduces motor and cognitive function in patients. Vinpocetine (Vinp) has the effects of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and could improve cognitive function in patients. This study was aimed to investigating the therapeutic effects of Vinp on dyskinesia in a 6-Hydroxydopamine hydrobromide (6-OHDA)-induced PD rat model. We constructed a PD rat model by injecting 6-OHDA, and intervened with Vinp for 7 days. The motor function of the rats was evaluated by an open-field test and rotation test. Besides, H&E staining was applied to observe the changes of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the rat striatum were detected. We assessed the impact of Vinp on α-synuclein (α-Syn) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related molecules by western blot and qRT-PCR. Rats in the PD group showed reduced horizontal movement frequency and number of squares crossed, increased contact time and rotation frequency, and reduced number of dopaminergic neurons accompanied by severe morphological damage. Vinp treatment increased the horizontal movement frequency and number of squares crossed, reduced the contact time, and rotation frequency in PD rats. Also, Vinp downregulated α-Syn protein expression and MDA level, while upregulated SOD activity in the striatum of PD rats. Furthermore, Vinp treatment activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the striatum of PD rats. In conclusion, Vinp improved the dyskinesia in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats by alleviating oxidative stress, and these effects may be associated with activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Modulatory effects of Cannabis sativa co-administration with tramadol and codeine on cognitive function in male rats

Most teenagers mix up various psychoactive cocktail substances in combinations to get intoxicated. The role of the mixture combination of codeine (CDE), tramadol (TMD), and Cannabis sativa (CNB) on brain cognition, purinergic, cholinergic, and antioxidant enzyme activities remains unknown. This study sought to assess the mechanism of action of combinations of CDE+ TMD+ CNB on the function and activities of the brain of male Wistar rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups, n = 6. Group 1 served as a control, groups 2, 3, and 4 were exposed to CDE (2 mg/kg bw), TMD (10 mg/kg bw), and CNB (200 mg/kg bw), while groups 5, 6, 7, and 8 were co-administered with CDE+TMD, CNB+ TMD, CNB+CDE, and CNB+TMD+CDE orally for 28 days. This study revealed the effect of prolonged administration of CNB, TMD, and CDE on the suppression of cognitive function, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), butyl-cholinesterase (BChE), monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme activities, and antioxidant enzyme activities in rats' brains when compared against control rats (P < 0.05). However, the activities of ectonucleosides (NTPdase), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and malondialdehyde levels produced in the brain of rats were significantly elevated (P < 0.05). This study reported the mechanism behind the neurotoxicity of CNB, TMD, and CDE on rats' cognitive, cholinergic, purinergic, and antioxidant enzymes as a consequence of the drastic reduction in cholinesterase enzyme activities leading to neurotransmitter poisoning.

Effects of fluoride on oxidative DNA damage, nitric oxide level, lipid peroxidation and cholinesterase enzyme activity in a rotenone-induced experimental Parkinson's model

OBJECTIVE

Environmental toxins are known to be one of the important factors in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was designed to investigate the possible contribution of fluoride (F) exposure to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in rats with PD induced by rotenone (ROT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 72 Wistar albino male rats were used in the experiment and 9 groups were formed with 8 animals in each group. ROT (2 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously (sc) for 28 days. Different doses of sodium fluoride (NaF) (25, 50 and 100 ug/mL) were given orally (po) for 4 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) and cholinesterase (AChE/BChE) enzyme activities were evaluated in serum and brain tissue homogenates.

RESULTS

Rats treated with ROT and NaF had significant increases in serum and brain MDA, NO content, and decreases in GSH. In addition, the combination of ROT and NaF triggered oxidative DNA damage and resulted in increased AChE/BChE activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that NaF and ROT may interact synergistically leading to oxidative damage and neuronal cell loss. As a result, we believe that exposure to pesticides in combination with NaF is one of the environmental factors that should not be ignored in the etiology of neurological diseases such as PD in populations in areas with endemic fluorosis.

New insights on the potential effect of vinpocetine in Parkinson's disease: one of the neglected warden and baffling topics

Vinpocetine (VPN) is an ethyl apovincaminate that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by inhibiting the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and phosphodiesterase enzyme 1 (PDE-1). VPN is used in the management of stroke, dementia, and other neurodegenerative brain diseases. VPN may be effective in treating Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, this review aimed to clarify the mechanistic role of VPN in the management of PD. VPN has protective and restorative effects against neuronal injury by reducing neuroinflammation, and improvement of synaptic plasticity and cerebral blood flow. VPN protects dopaminergic neurons by reducing oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, glutamate neurotoxicity, and regulation of Ca+ 2 overloads. VPN can alleviate PD neuropathology through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic and neurogenic effects. VPN through inhibition of PDE1 improves cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (SN). VPN improves PD neuropathology through PDE1 inhibition with a subsequent increase of the cAMP/cGMP signaling pathway. Therefore, increasing cAMP leads to antioxidant effects, while augmentation of cGMP by VPN leads to anti-inflammatory effects which reduced neurotoxicity and development of motor severity in PD. In conclusion, this review indicated that VPN could be effective in the management of PD.