Passiflora cincinnata Extract Delays the Development of Motor Signs and Prevents Dopaminergic Loss in a Mice Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Passiflora cincinnata Masters is a Brazilian native species of passionflower. This genus is known in the American continent folk medicine for its diuretic and analgesic properties. Nevertheless, few studies investigated possible biological effects of P. cincinnata extracts. Further, evidence of antioxidant actions encourages the investigation of possible neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the effect of the P. cincinnata ethanolic extract (PAS) on mice submitted to a progressive model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by reserpine. Male (6-month-old) mice received reserpine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), every other day, for 40 days, with or without a concomitant treatment with daily injections of PAS (25 mg/kg, i.p.). Catalepsy, open field, oral movements, and plus-maze discriminative avoidance evaluations were performed across treatment, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase was conducted at the end. The results showed that PAS treatment delayed the onset of motor impairments and prevented the occurrence of increased catalepsy behavior in the premotor phase. However, PAS administration did not modify reserpine-induced cognitive impairments. Moreover, PAS prevented the decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) induced by reserpine. Taken together, our results suggested that PAS exerted a neuroprotective effect in a progressive model of PD.

Myrtenol complexed with β‐cyclodextrin ameliorates behavioural deficits and reduces oxidative stress in the reserpine‐induced animal model of Parkinsonism

“…Another major non‐motor deficit in PD is memory impairment 63,64 . Previous studies demonstrated that RES‐administration induces memory deficits in rodents 29,42,54,65,66 . As expected, an object recognition deficit was observed in our study, and MYR‐cotreatment protected against this memory alteration.…”

“…Beserra‐Filho et al 54 showed that chronic treatment with Eplingiella fruticosa extract complexed with βCD delayed the emergence of catalepsy, reduced vacuous chewing movements, protected against memory impairment, protected against reduction of TH + levels and diminished oxidative stress on RES‐treated male mice. In another study, the ethanolic extract of Passiflora cincinnata postponed the start of catalepsy behaviour and decreased vacuous chewing movements of mice submitted to this protocol 65 . The neuroprotective properties of both extracts were associated with compounds present in their phytochemical compositions, mainly terpenes such as myrtenol.…”

“…Plant extracts and their isolated compounds have demonstrated neuroprotective effects in rodent models of parkinsonism 54,65,67‐73 . Beserra‐Filho et al 54 showed that chronic treatment with Eplingiella fruticosa extract complexed with βCD delayed the emergence of catalepsy, reduced vacuous chewing movements, protected against memory impairment, protected against reduction of TH + levels and diminished oxidative stress on RES‐treated male mice.…”

Natural Compounds for the Management of Parkinson’s Disease and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Thus, in a model of PD induced by reserpine, Passiflora cincinnata extract prevented the decrease in TH in the SN induced by reserpine, delayed the onset of motor impairments, and prevented the occurrence of increased catalepsy behaviour. However, the extract did not modify reserpine-induced cognitive impairments [60].…”

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and coconut coir dust application enhance the production of foliar secondary metabolites in Passiflora cincinnata Mast. seedlings

“…Passiflora cincinnata Masters occurs in the north, northeastern, midwest, and southwestern regions in Brazil 1 . The leaves possess neuroprotective 2 and antimicrobial activity 3 and are considered a source of bioactive compounds 4 . However, these compounds are produced at low concentrations, and because of this, it is important to search for alternatives that enhance the production of these biomolecules of interest to the pharmaceutical industry 5 …”