Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common degenerative disorders and is characterized by observable motor dysfunction and the loss of dopaminergic neurons. In this study, we fabricated curcumin nanoparticles using human serum albumin as a nanocarrier. Encapsulating curcumin is beneficial to improving its aqueous solubility and bioavailability. The curcumin-loaded HSA nanoparticles were acquired in the particle size and at the zeta potential of 200 nm and −10 mV, respectively. The curcumin-loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles ameliorated Parkinson’s disease features in the C. elegans model, including body movement, basal slowing response, and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. These results suggest that curcumin nanoparticles have potential as a medicinal nanomaterial for preventing the progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective degeneration of neurons, primarily in the substantia nigra. Environmental or exogenous factors that cause Parkinson’s disease have not been sufficiently elucidated. Our study aims to investigate the causative effect of a high-glucose diet on Parkinson’s disease-relevant dopaminergic neuronal system in Caenorhabditis elegans . Aging parameters were first observed by measuring the lifespan, body movement, and body sizes with and without the background of high glucose. The toxic effect of a high-glucose diet was further explored by observing the dopaminergic neurons using transgenic Pdat-1::gfp strains, BZ555, under a Zeiss microscope, and the experiments were extended by assessing dopamine-related behavioral analysis including basal slowing response and alcohol avoidance. The aggregation of the α-synucleins was also assessed by observing the NL5901 mutants. Worms fed with 250 mM glucose showed daf-2 -independent regulation of aging, displaying a short lifespan (≤15 days), long body size (max. 140%), and slow movement (min. 30%, 10 bends/min). Anterior dopaminergic neurons were rapidly inactivated (70%) by a glucose-rich diet from 12 h of exposure, suggesting specific degeneration in ADE neurons. The dysregulation of neurons led to deteriorations in dopaminergic behaviors including basal slowing response (BSR). A high-glucose diet decreased dopamine synthesis (40 pg/mg vs 15 pg/mg protein) and induced α-synuclein aggregation in the muscles. Results demonstrate the potential of a high-glucose diet as a trigger of dopaminergic neuronal dysregulation conjugating aging acceleration.

Nanosized dioscin-loaded zein-CMC (DZC) complex comprising dioscin (glycoside saponin), zein (corn protein), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is fabricated through anti-solvent coprecipitation. The optimized ratio of zein to CMC for the homogenous complexation is 5:1, and DZC maintains its stability in a wide range of pH (3.0-8.0) and ionic strength (0-50 mm NaCl). No biological toxicity of DZC is found in Caenorhabditis elegans with a normal lifespan and body size. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopamine (DA) and dopaminergic neurons. In cat-2 mutant with defective biosynthesis of DA, DZC-fed animals show intact DA behaviors including basal slowing response (≈60%) and alcohol avoidance (≈80%). Such DA promotional effects are a result of the enhanced expression/activation of DA transporter, DAT-1 in DA neurons. Taken together, DZC has a potential for preventing PD as an oral-administered drugs and supplements.

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