Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril prevents neuronal overexpression of amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein in Drosophila melanogaster genetic models of neurodegenerative diseases

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.

Neuroprotective potential of plant derived parenchymal stem cells extract on environmental and genetic models of Parkinson disease through attenuation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor features. The current treatment regimen for PD are dopamine enhancers which have been reported to worsen the disease prognosis after long term treatment, thus, the need for better treatment options. This study sought to investigate the protective action of Double Stem Cell® (DSC), a blend of stem cells extracts from Swiss apples (Malus Domestica) and Burgundy grapes (Vitis vinifera) on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinsonism in mice and genetic model of PD in Drosophila melanogaster. Male albino mice were pretreated with MPTP (4 × 20 mg/kg, i.p., two hourly in 8 h), twelve hours before administration of DSC (8, 40, or 200 mg/kg, p.o.). Thereafter, behavioural, biochemical and immunohistochemical assays were carried out. The impact of vehicle or DSC supplementation on α-synuclein aggregation was evaluated in Drosophila melanogaster using the UAS-Gal4 system, female DDC-Gal4 flies were crossed with male UAS-α-synuclein, the progenies were examined for fecundity, locomotion, memory, and lifespan. MPTP-induced motor deficits in open field test (OFT), working memory impairment (Y-maze test (YMT)) and muscle incoordination (rotarod test) were ameliorated by DSC (8, 40 or 200 mg/kg) through dose-dependent and significant improvements in motor, cognitive and motor coordination. Moreso, MPTP exposure caused significant increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities (glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase) in the midbrain which were attenuated by DSC. MPTP-induced expression of microglia (iba-1), astrocytes (glia fibrillary acidic protein; GFAP) as well as degeneration of dopamine neurons (tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons) in the substantia nigra (SN) were reversed by DSC. Supplementation of flies feed with graded concentration of DSC (0.8, 4 or 20 mg/ml) did not affect fecundity but improved climbing activity and lifespan. Findings from this study showed that Double Stem Cell improved motor and cognitive functions in both mice and Drosophila through attenuation of neurotoxin-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.