Medicinal Plants and Natural Products as Potential Sources for Antiparkinson Drugs

Abstract

Parkinson?s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative dysfunction characterized by the loss of pigmented dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system with a consequent dopamine decrease. The reduction of dopamine levels produces neuronal damage, depigmentation of the substantia nigra, and the presence of intracellular inclusions in dopaminergic neurons. Treatments for Parkinson?s disease aim for improving these motor symptoms by increasing the dopaminergic signal in the striatum with levodopa in combination with enzyme inhibitors or anticholinergic drugs. Nevertheless, natural products can act as neuroprotective agents by reducing the progression of the disease and the inflammatory process. In the present review, we have compiled data on the principal medicinal plants and natural products as potential antiparkinsonian agents. They act by different mechanisms, such as the inhibition of ?-synuclein condensation, reduction of oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation, increase of dopaminergic neurons survival, or the blockade of the A2?A receptor.

Phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of the genus artemisia

“…The ethanolic aqueous extracts of A. nilagirica and A. parviflora have been employed for the anti-Alzheimer effect. A different test for catalepsy (bar test), locomotor action (actophotometer test) muscle mobility (rotarod test) proves for antiparkinsonian effect, and also possesses impressive and emphatic neuroprotective activities (Sengupta et al 2011;Rios et al 2016). A. absinthium was employed in the formulation of the drink, presently have been restricted in a maximum number of nations because of neurotoxicity (Lachenmeier and Uebelacker 2010;Lachenmeier 2010).…”

Anti-Parkinson’s Activity of Tribulus terrestris via Modulation of AChE, α-Synuclein, TNF-α, and IL-1β

“…Pathogenesis of PD involves various environmental and genetic factors, causing inhibition of mitochondrial complex-1, inflammation, apoptosis, protein aggregation, and excitotoxicity. 1 The reduced level of dopamine in the caudate and basal ganglia triggers the emergence of pathological conditions such as the presence of intracellular Lewy body inclusions, neuronal damage, and depigmentation. Oxidative stress has a principal role in the pathogenesis and advancement of PD by disrupting cellular proteins and lipids in the membrane.…”

Mechanistic study of the inhibitory activity of Geum urbanum extract against α-Synuclein fibrillation

“…Natural products have long been found to inhibit amyloid fibril formation of different proteins and several compounds have been shown to have an effect against Parkinson's in vitro as well as in vivo [12][13][14]. More specifically, a wide range of natural compounds have shown inhibitory activity against α-Synuclein fibrillation [15][16][17][18].…”