Rose essential oil diminishes dopaminergic neuron degenerations and reduces α‐synuclein aggregation in Caenorhabditis elegans models of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (P.D.) is the second most progressive neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly. Degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and α-synuclein (α-Syn) accumulated toxicity is the major contributor to this disease. At present, the disease has no effective treatment. Many recent studies focus on identifying novel therapeutics that provide benefits to stop the disease progression in P.D. patients. Screening novel and effective drugs in P.D. animal models is time-and cost-consuming. Rose Essential Oil (REO) extracted from Rosa Rugosa species (R. Setate  R. Rugosa). REO contains Citronellol, Geraniol, and Octadiene that possess anti-Aβ, anti-oxidative, and anti-depression-like properties, but no reports have defined the REO effect on P.D. yet. The present study examines the REO neuroprotective potential in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans P.D. models. We observed that REO reduced α-Syn aggregations and diminished DA neuron degenerations induced by 6-OHDA, reduced food-sensing behavioural disabilities, and prolonged the lifespan of the nematode. Moreover, REO augmented the chymotrypsin-like proteasome and SOD-3 activities. Further, we observed the anti-oxidative role of REO by reducing internal cells ROS.Together, these findings supported REO as an anti-PD drug and may exert its effects by lowering oxidative stress via the anti-oxidative pathway.

Essential Oil Molecules Can Break the Loop of Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…These EOs possess anti-Aβ, anti-oxidative, and anti-depression-like properties, demonstrating neuroprotective potential in C. elegans. Moreover, in C. elegans treated with 6-Hydroxydopamine hydrobromide (6-OHDA), a neurotoxin that damages the dopaminergic neurons and is thus considered a PD model, rose EOs reduced α-Syn aggregations and diminished dopamine neuron degenerations, reversing the food-sensing behavioral disabilities induced by the 6-OHDA treatment, and prolonging the lifespan of the nematode [39]. In this study, an increased SOD-3 activity in neurons was also observed, that has been linked to the anti-oxidative effect of rose EO that is indeed capable to reduce internal cellular ROS levels [39].…”

“…Moreover, in C. elegans treated with 6-Hydroxydopamine hydrobromide (6-OHDA), a neurotoxin that damages the dopaminergic neurons and is thus considered a PD model, rose EOs reduced α-Syn aggregations and diminished dopamine neuron degenerations, reversing the food-sensing behavioral disabilities induced by the 6-OHDA treatment, and prolonging the lifespan of the nematode [39]. In this study, an increased SOD-3 activity in neurons was also observed, that has been linked to the anti-oxidative effect of rose EO that is indeed capable to reduce internal cellular ROS levels [39]. The same rose EO was tested in an AD model based on transgenic CL4176 C. elegans which overexpresses the human Aβ1−42 gene when the temperature rises from 15 to 25 • C. In these worms, rose EO significantly inhibited AD-like symptoms, such as worm paralysis and hypersensitivity to exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine, in a dose-dependent manner.…”

Assessment of the Anti-Amyloidogenic Properties of Essential Oils and Their Constituents in Cells Using a Whole-Cell Recombinant Biosensor

“…Given that PD and related disorders are incurable at present, the utilization of EOs could potentially be used as a complementary therapy for improving patients' quality of life [29], despite the fact that their effectiveness against certain aspects of neurodegenerative diseases (dementia, anxiety and agitation) still remains unclear [30][31][32][33][34]. There is increasing evidence that EOs and their constituents can have an impact against PD due to neuroprotective [35][36][37], antioxidant [35][36][37], antiinflammatory [36], anti-apoptotic [35,36] and proteasome- [35] and autophagy-modulating properties [36,37]. However, our knowledge regarding the effect that EOs or their constituents have on α-syn aggregation is rather limited, and the existing information is contradictory.…”

“…However, our knowledge regarding the effect that EOs or their constituents have on α-syn aggregation is rather limited, and the existing information is contradictory. While Myrtus communis (common Myrtle) EO increases the rate of α-syn fibrillation [38], the Rosa Setate x Rosa Rugosa (Kushui rose) EO [35], as well as cuminaldehyde, the main constituent of Cuminum cyminum (cumin) EO [39], has the opposite effect.…”