Evaluating the synergistic effect of Mucuna prurines extract and sesame oil against the Parkinson’s disease zebrafish model: in-vivo/in-silico approach

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused due to the degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons. Mucuna pruriens (MP) and Sesame oil (SO) are well-known for their neuroprotective and antioxidative properties but to date, no experimental study proves their synergistic effects in PD. The protective and therapeutic potential of MP extract containing 40% levodopa along with SO were evaluated, individually and together, on a multi-low dose (0.006 mg/g) of a rotenone-induced zebrafish model of PD. Neuroprotective roles of MP extract and SO on the activities of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as Catalase, GST, AChE, BChE, adenosine deaminase, and content of Glutathione and Malondialdehyde were examined. Also, the dopamine, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels were estimated via the ELISA method. Histopathological studies were performed for the confirmation of neuronal damage. Swiss Target Prediction software was used to predict the target protein receptors for MP and SO and protein interaction networks were used to decipher their role in molecular pathways such as synaptic plasticity, dopamine synthesis, etc. through Cytoscape and bingo plugin. The combination of MP extract and SO was observed to ameliorate oxidative stress and significantly increase the cholinergic enzyme activity and dopamine level and thereby helps in preventing neuronal cell damage.