Anupom Borah

Neuroprotective Potential of Silymarin against CNS Disorders: Insight into the Pathways and Molecular Mechanisms of Action

Silymarin, a C25 containing flavonoid from the plant Silybum marianum, has been the gold standard drug to treat liver disorders associated with alcohol consumption, acute and chronic viral hepatitis, and toxin‐induced hepatic failures since its discovery in 1960. Apart from the hepatoprotective nature, which is mainly due to its antioxidant and tissue regenerative properties, Silymarin has recently been reported to be a putative neuroprotective agent against many neurologic diseases including Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases, and cerebral ischemia. Although the underlying neuroprotective mechanism of Silymarin is believed to be due to its capacity to inhibit oxidative stress in the brain, it also confers additional advantages by influencing pathways such as β‐amyloid aggregation, inflammatory mechanisms, cellular apoptotic machinery, and estrogenic receptor mediation. In this review, we have elucidated the possible neuroprotective effects of Silymarin and the underlying molecular events, and suggested future courses of action for its acceptance as a CNS drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

L-DOPA induced-endogenous 6-hydroxydopamine is the cause of aggravated dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease patients

Dopamine replacement therapy by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which is the gold standard symptomatic treatment for the Parkinsons disease (PD), frequently leads to potential debilitating side-effects such as dyskinesia. One of the most significant molecules reported to be produced endogenously in the brain is 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), contributed solely by unsequestered dopamine in neurons derived from L-DOPA. It is further demonstrated that scavengers of hydroxyl radicals such as melatonin and salicylic acid inhibited its generation. However no reports on the level of 6-OHDA and hydroxyl radicals generated in vivo in human brain is known. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to be associated with Lewy body formation, which is directly dependent on the levels of free dopamine. Therefore, it is hypothesized that L-DOPA induced increase in endogenous 6-OHDA levels will have the ability to cause oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions that eventually leads to Lewy body formation in dopaminergic neurons resulting in its degeneration. Concomitant use of potent anti-oxidants along with L-DOPA would help in attenuating the neurodegeneration caused by endogenous 6-OHDA and would ultimately delay the progression of PD.

Cholesterol contributes to dopamine-neuronal loss in MPTP mouse model of Parkinson’s disease: Involvement of mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress

Hypercholesterolemia is a known contributor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease while its role in the occurrence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is only conjecture and far from conclusive. Altered antioxidant homeostasis and mitochondrial functions are the key mechanisms in loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) region of the midbrain in PD. Hypercholesterolemia is reported to cause oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in the cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain in rodents. However, the impact of hypercholesterolemia on the midbrain dopaminergic neurons in animal models of PD remains elusive. We tested the hypothesis that hypercholesterolemia in MPTP model of PD would potentiate dopaminergic neuron loss in SN by disrupting mitochondrial functions and antioxidant homeostasis. It is evident from the present study that hypercholesterolemia in naïve animals caused dopamine neuronal loss in SN with subsequent reduction in striatal dopamine levels producing motor impairment. Moreover, in the MPTP model of PD, hypercholesterolemia exacerbated MPTP-induced reduction of striatal dopamine as well as dopaminergic neurons in SN with motor behavioral depreciation. Activity of mitochondrial complexes, mainly complex-I and III, was impaired severely in the nigrostriatal pathway of hypercholesterolemic animals treated with MPTP. Hypercholesterolemia caused oxidative stress in the nigrostriatal pathway with increased generation of hydroxyl radicals and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes, which were further aggravated in the hypercholesterolemic mice with Parkinsonism. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence of increased vulnerability of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons in PD with hypercholesterolemia.

L-DOPA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in Parkinson's disease: Elephant in the room.

BACKGROUND Dopamine replacement therapy by its precursor, L-3.4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), has been the treatment of choice for Parkinsons disease. However, the possible contributory effect of L-DOPA therapy on the progression of Parkinsons disease mediated by the L-DOPA-induced toxic metabolites remains elusive. SCOPE OF REVIEW Prolong use of L-DOPA leads to behavioral impediments and instigate the generation of several toxic metabolites. One such metabolite is homocysteine, the level of which increases in the plasma of Parkinsons disease patients undergoing L-DOPA therapy, as well as in brain of animal models of the disease. In concoction with parkinsonian neurotoxins, Hcy exaggerates dopaminergic neurodegeneration, while its intranigral infusion has been demonstrated to decrease the dopamine level as well as causes dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Therefore, it can be propounded that elevated level of Hcy (hyperhomocysteinemia) is one of the underlying causes of L-DOPA-induced side-effects and aggravates the progressive nature of Parkinsons disease, which has been focused here. We have provided a conjectural discussion on the involvement of Hcy in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinsons disease. CONCLUSION Hyperhomocysteinemia as a result of prolonged L-DOPA therapy is the emerging cause of L-DOPA-induced behavioral abnormalities and progressive nature of Parkinsons disease. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This review highlights that hyperhomocysteinemia could be a putative contributor of the side-effects of chronic L-DOPA therapy because of its neurotoxic potency.

A highly reproducible mice model of chronic kidney disease: Evidences of behavioural abnormalities and blood-brain barrier disruption

AIMS In the present study, a novel mice model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was developed, and psycho-motor behavioural abnormalities, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and brain histology were studied. MAIN METHODS Swiss albino female mice were given high adenine diet (0.3% w/w mixed with feed) for 4weeks. Serum urea and creatinine levels and renal histological studies were performed to validate the model. Psycho-motor behavioural abnormalities and neurological severity were studied. BBB integrity was assessed using Evans blue extravasation method. Nissl staining was performed to see possible morphological aberrations in brain. KEY FINDINGS There was a significant increase in serum urea and creatinine levels in mice given high adenine diet, and the mice had abnormal kidney morphology. Deposition of adenine and 2,8-dihydroxyadenine crystals, and increased collagen deposits in the renal tissues were found, which validate induction of CKD in the mice. Motor behavioural abnormalities, depression-like and anxiolytic behaviour and increase in neurological severity were prevalent in mice with CKD. Evans Blue dye extravasation was found to occur in the brain, which signifies disruption of BBB. However, Nissl staining did not reveal any morphological aberration in brain tissue. SIGNIFICANCE The present study puts forward a highly reproducible mice model of CKD validated with serum parameters and renal histopathological changes. The mice showed psycho-motor behavioural abnormalities and BBB disruption. It is a convenient model to study the disease pathology, and understanding the associated disorders, and their therapeutic interventions.

Chronic exposure of homocysteine in mice contributes to dopamine loss by enhancing oxidative stress in nigrostriatum and produces behavioral phenotypes of Parkinson’s disease

Increased homocysteine (Hcy) level has been implicated as an independent risk factor for various neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Hcy has been reported to cause dopaminergic neuronal loss in rodents and causes the behavioral abnormalities. This study is an attempt to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying Hcy-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity after its chronic systemic administration. Male Swiss albino mice were injected with different doses of Hcy (100 and 250 mg/kg; intraperitoneal) for 60 days. Animals subjected to higher doses of Hcy, but not the lower dose, produces motor behavioral abnormalities with significant dopamine depletion in the striatum. Significant inhibition of mitochondrial complex-I activity in nigra with enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes in the nigrostriatum have highlighted the involvement of Hcy-induced oxidative stress. While, chronic exposure to Hcy neither significantly alters the nigrostriatal glutathione level nor it causes any visible change in tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity of dopaminergic neurons. The finding set us to hypothesize that the mild oxidative stress due to prolonged Hcy exposure to mice is conducive to striatal dopamine depletion leading to behavioral abnormalities similar to that observed in PD.

β-Phenethylamine—A Phenylalanine Derivative in Brain—Contributes to Oxidative Stress by Inhibiting Mitochondrial Complexes and DT-Diaphorase: An In Silico Study

Till date, the mode of action of β‐PEA on neurons is not well illustrated. We tested the hypothesis that β–PEA has the ability to cause oxidative stress by inhibiting the antioxidant enzyme DT‐diaphorase and mitochondrial complexes (Complex‐I and complex‐III).

Contribution of β-phenethylamine, a component of chocolate and wine, to dopaminergic neurodegeneration: implications for the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

While the cause of dopaminergic neuronal cell death in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not yet understood, many endogenous molecules have been implicated in its pathogenesis. β-phenethylamine (β-PEA), a component of various food items including chocolate and wine, is an endogenous molecule produced from phenylalanine in the brain. It has been reported recently that long-term administration of β-PEA in rodents causes neurochemical and behavioral alterations similar to that produced by parkinsonian neurotoxins. The toxicity of β-PEA has been linked to the production of hydroxyl radical (.OH) and the generation of oxidative stress in dopaminergic areas of the brain, and this may be mediated by inhibition of mitochondrial complex-I. Another signifi cant observation is that administration of β-PEA to rodents reduces striatal dopamine content and induces movement disorders similar to those of parkinsonian rodents. However, no reports are available on the extent of dopaminergic neuronal cell death after administration of β-PEA. Based on the literature, we set out to establish β-PEA as an endogenous molecule that potentially contributes to the progressive development of PD. The sequence of molecular events that could be responsible for dopaminergic neuronal cell death in PD by consumption of β-PEA-containing foods is proposed here. Thus, long-term over-consumption of food items containing β-PEA could be a neurological risk factor having significant pathological consequences.

Salicylic acid protects against chronic l-DOPA-induced 6-OHDA generation in experimental model of parkinsonism

The present study evaluated the ability of salicylic acid (SA) to attenuate long-term L-DOPA-induced 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) formation in the striatum of mice, and to protect against the resulting dopaminergic neurotoxicity. The production of 6-OHDA from dopamine in vitro from ferrous-ascorbate-dopamine (FAD) hydroxyl radical ((*)OH) generating system or in vivo in the striatum following prolonged administration of L-DOPA in mice were found to be significantly attenuated by SA. Intra-median forebrain bundle infusion of FAD, but not equivalent dose of ferrous ion or dopamine individually, caused significant striatal dopamine depletion, which was blocked by SA administration. The dose- and time-dependent increase in the formation of 6-OHDA following L-DOPA treatment in the mouse striatum was synergistically enhanced to the systemic administration of the parkinsonian neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. SA treatment significantly attenuated the L-DOPA plus the parkinsonian neurotoxin-induced striatal 6-OHDA generation, and protected against striatal dopamine loss. The present study demonstrated a novel mode of dopaminergic neuroprotection by SA and its possible therapeutic implication in the treatment of Parkinsons disease.

The potential physiological crosstalk and interrelationship between two sovereign endogenous amines, melatonin and homocysteine

The antioxidant melatonin and the non-proteinogenic excitotoxic amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) are very distinct but related reciprocally to each other in their mode of action. The elevated Hcy level has been implicated in several disease pathologies ranging from cardio- and cerebro-vascular diseases to neurodegeneration owing largely to its free radical generating potency. Interestingly, melatonin administration potentially normalizes the elevated Hcy level, thereby protecting the cells from the undesired Hcy-induced excitotoxicity and cell death. However, the exact mechanism and between them remain obscure. Through literature survey we have found an indistinct but a vital link between melatonin and Hcy i.e., the existence of reciprocal regulation between them, and this aspect has been thoroughly described herein. In this review, we focus on all the possibilities of co-regulation of melatonin and Hcy at the level of their production and metabolism both in basal and in pathological conditions, and appraised the potential of melatonin in ameliorating homocysteinemia-induced cellular stresses. Also, we have summarized the differential mode of action of melatonin and Hcy on health and disease states.