Title:Purple Carrot Extract Exhibits a Neuroprotective Profile in th e
Nigrostriatal Pathway in the Reserpine-induced Model of Parkinson ’s
Disease
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ana Claudia Custódio-Silva, Jose Ivo Araújo Beserra-Filho, Beatriz Soares-Silva, Amanda Maria-Macêdo, Suellen Silva-Martins, Sara Pereira Silva, José Ronaldo Santos, Regina Helena Silva, Daniel Araki Ribeiro and Alessandra Mussi Ribeiro*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil
Keywords:
Natural products, nutraceuticals, parkinson’s disease, neurodegenerative disease, neuroprotection, motor behavior.
Abstract:
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder
characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway.
Even with scientific and technological advances, the therapeutic approaches used for the treatment
of PD have shown to be largely ineffective in controlling the progression of symptoms in
the long term. There is a growing demand for the development of novel therapeutic strategies
for PD treatment. Different herbs and supplements have been considered as adjuvant to treat the
symptoms of Parkinsonism. The carrot is one of the most consumed vegetable species worldwide,
and its root is known for its content of anthocyanins, which possess antioxidant and antiinflammatory
properties. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of purple carrot extract
(CAR) in rats on the reserpine (RES)-induced progressive parkinsonism model.
Methods: Male rats (6-month-old) received orally the CAR (400 mg/kg) or vehicle and subcutaneously
RES (0.01 mg/kg) or vehicle for 28 days (Preventive Phase). From the 29th day, rats
received CAR or vehicle daily and RES (0.1 mg/kg) or vehicle every other day (for 23 days,
Protective phase). Behavioral tests were conducted throughout the treatment. Upon completion,
the animals’ brain were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemical assessment.
Results: Our results showed that the chronic treatment of CAR protected against motor disabilities,
reducing the time of catalepsy behavior and decreasing the frequency of oral movements,
possibly by preserving TH levels in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and SNpc.
Conclusion: CAR extract is effective to attenuate motor symptoms in rats associated with increased
TH+ levels in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and SNpc, indicating the potential
nutraceutical benefits of CAR extract in a progressive parkinsonism model induced by RES.
