Protective efficacy of usnic acid against combined effect of high fat diet and rotenone induced Parkinson disease rat model

Abstract

The etiological basis and solutions to Parkinson disease still remains elusive despite newlinedecades of research. This research work was undertaken to find a better modified newlinemodel of PD and also to find whether any other molecules which act to reduce ROS newlinecan reduce or prevent dopaminergic damage in PD. Usnic acid was identified as one newlinesuch molecule which may be a possible treatment option for PD and it was decided to newlinecompare it with existing treatment models. The biochemical basis of improvement newlinefollowing above the threshold exercises also was not available in literature, especially newlinethe changes in SN. This was also analysed and compared with biochemical newlinemechanisms of usnic acid. The present study used the postulated pro inflammatory newlineproperty of high and#969;6:and#969;3(46:1) content of Corn Oil to induce additional damage to DA newlineneurons resulting a quicker induction of PD. This indicates that HFD+Rot model is newlinebetter than rotenone alone model of PD for inducing PD with respect to clinical newlinemanifestation, biochemical evidence of dopaminergic neuronal destruction and newlineoxidative and inflammatory damage to neurons in a lesser time frame. Better animal newlineoutcome and lesser duration of induction is seen in HFD+Rot when compared with newlinerotenone alone models. It also brings out the role of and#969;6:3 ratio of PUFA, with higher newlineinflammatory role of and#969;6 in dopaminergic neurons. Hence contrary to current argument newlinethat saturated fatty acids increases PD, PUFA with higher and#969;6 also contribute to the newlinedamage of dopaminergic neurons resulting in aggravation of PD and this new animal newlinemodel can be used for PD research. newlineThe present study also indicates that usnic acid could be a potential treatment to alter newlinethe progression of PD onset and to help prevent the loss of dopaminergic neurons in newlinethe substantia nigra because of its neuroprotective/ regenerative effects. More studies newlineare needed to understand the molecular signalling events that result in activation of newlineNurr1 by usnic acid in order to support the probable neuroprotection/ regeneration. newlineBi