Green coffee extract attenuates Parkinson’s-related behaviors in animal models

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between coffee consumption and the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of caffeine and green (non-roasted) coffee extract in experimental models of PD. The effects of the oral treatment with green coffee extracts (CE, Coffea arabica 100 or 400 mg/kg) and caffeine (31.2 mg/kg) were evaluated on catalepsy induced by haloperidol in mice, and unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of medial forebrain bundle (MFB) or striatum in rats. Also, the in vitro antioxidant activity and the monoamine levels in the striatum were investigated. CE presented a mild antioxidant activity in vitro and its administration decreased the catalepsy index. CE at the dose of 400 mg/kg induced ipsilateral rotations 14 days after the lesion; however, chronic 30-day CE and caffeine treatments did not interfere with the animals’ rotation after apomorphine or methamphetamine challenges in animals with MFB lesion, nor on monoamines levels. Furthermore, CE and caffeine were effective in inhibiting the asymmetry between ipsilateral and contralateral rotations induced by methamphetamine and apomorphine in animals with lesion in the striatum but did not avoid the monoamines depletion. These results suggest a pro-dopaminergic action of CE, although its mechanism remains unclear.