Blockade of Sensorimotor Impairments in Mice with Striate Dopaminergic Deficiency by Extracts of the Darkling Beetle Alphitobius Diaperinus

Abstract

Five groups of C57Bl/6JSto mice (groups 1–5) were tested on a vertical pole two weeks after s.c. administration (groups 2–5) of the proneurotoxin methylphenyltetrahydropyridine (MPTP) at a dose of 40 mg per kg, which at this time induces sensorimotor impairments similar to the early stage of Parkinson’s disease. Mice of group 1 served as controls. One week before MPTP administration and throughout the whole of the post-treatment period (two weeks), animals of groups 3–5 received a feed supplement (8 g/kg of feed) consisting of one of three extracts of biomass homogenate of the “remedy” beetle Alphitobius diaperinus. Extracts were: aqueous (No. 1), aqueous-methanolic (No. 2), and aqueous-methanolic after solid-phase extraction (No. 3). Extracts were immobilized on a plant-based carrier. Animals of groups 1 and 2 were kept on a standard diet without supplementation. The severe sensorimotor impairments seen in mice of group 2 (toxin) did not occur in either group 1 (controls) or groups 3–5, where animals received dietary supplementation with “antidote” consisting of darkling beetle biomass extract. The most effective was preparation No. 3.