Behavioral, Biochemical and Histopathological effects of Standardised Pomegranate extract with Vinpocetine, Propolis or Cocoa in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinsonism is a neurodegenerative disorder. Pomegranate (POM) has been previously shown to have a dopaminergic neuroprotective effect against parkinsonism. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study is to investigate the possible effect of POM in combination with each of vinpocetine, propolis, or cocoa in the treatment of parkinsonism disease even without being given as adjuvant to L-dopa . METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups, one normal and six RT model groups. One of the RT groups (2.5 mg/kg/48 h/10 doses sc), for 20 days served as non-treated parkinsonism model, whereas the others were treated with either L-dopa (10 mg/kg, p.o./day) or with POM (150 mg/kg, p.o./day) together with each of the following; vinpocetine (VIN) (20 mg/kg, p.o./day), propolis (300 mg/kg, p.o./day), cocoa (24 mg/kg, p.o./day). Motor and cognitive performances were examined using four tests (catalepsy, swimming, Y-maze, open field). Striatal dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, acetylcholinesterase, GSK-3ß, BDNF levels were assessed as well as MDA, SOD, TAC, IL-1ß, TNF-α, iNOs, and caspase-3. Also, histopathological examinations of different brain regions were determined. RESULTS: Treatment with L-dopa alone or with all POM combination groups alleviated the deficits in locomotor activities, cognition, neurotransmitter levels, acetylcholinesterase activity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers as well as caspase-3 expression induced by RT. CONCLUSION: Combinations of POM with each of VIN, propolis, or cocoa have a promising disease-modifying antiparkinsonian therapy even without being given as an adjuvant to L-dopa.

Natural antioxidants enhance the power of physical and mental activities versus risk factors inducing progression of Alzheimer's disease in rats.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is exacerbated by social isolation (SI) and protein malnutrition (PM). Antioxidants, physical and mental activities (Ph&M) can maintain cognitive functions and protect against dementia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), Vitamin E (VE), Vitamin C (VC), and Selenium (Se), in enhancing the potential effect of Ph&M versus SI&PM as risk factors in the progression of AD in rats. METHODS: Aluminum chloride (70 mg/kg, I.P for 5 weeks) was used to induce AD in rats that either normally fed or socially isolated and protein malnourished (SI&PM). Simultaneously, rats were weekly exposed to Ph&M either alone or in combination with EGCG (10 mg/kg, I.P), VC (400 mg/kg, P.O), VE (100 mg/kg, P.O), and Se (1 mg/kg, P.O). RESULTS: The combination protocol of EGCG, VE, VC, and Se together with Ph&M significantly increased brain monoamines, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in AD, SI&PM and SI&PM/AD groups. Additionally, this regimen significantly mitigated brain acetylcholine esterase (ACHE), ß-amyloid (Aß), Tau protein, ß-secretase, malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) as well as DNA fragmentation. These biochemical findings were supported by the histopathological examinations of brain tissue. CONCLUSION: The combination protocol of antioxidants with Ph&M activities mitigated SI&PM-induced progressive risk of AD.