Ferroptosis as a New Mechanism in Parkinson's Disease Therapy Using Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Lijuan Wu,Meijun Liu,Jingtao Liang,Yuan He,Tao Ma,Nannan Li,Dongdong Yang,Yong Zhang,Junjie Cai,Zhigang Chen

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.659584

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. To date, among medications used to treat PD, only levodopa exhibits a limited disease-modifying effect on early-onset PD, but it cannot delay the progression of the disease. In 2018, for the first time, the World Health Organization included traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in its influential global medical compendium. The use of TCM in the treatment of PD has a long history. At present, TCM can help treat and prevent PD. Iron metabolism is closely associated with PD. Ferroptosis, which is characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides, is a recently discovered form of iron-dependent cell death. The research literature indicates that ferroptosis in dopaminergic neurons is an important pathogenetic mechanism of PD. TCM may thus play unique roles in the treatment of PD and provide new ideas for the treatment of PD by regulating pathways associated with ferroptosis.

Highlights

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is second only to Alzheimer’s disease
Research on the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of PD through pathways associated with ferroptosis is limited
Ferroptosis is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, and the ferroptosis of dopaminergic neurons is an important recently discovered pathogenetic mechanism of PD

Summary

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is second only to Alzheimer’s disease. The administration of the ferroptosis inducer erastin can induce the occurrence of ferroptotic cell death, increase the abnormal accumulation of α-syn in mice, and decrease the number of dopaminergic neurons (Friedmann Angeli et al, 2014; Ito et al, 2017). Lobata (Willd.) Maesen and S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa and Predeep (Fabaceae; Pueraria radix et root), Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae; Ephedra root and rhizome), Cinnamomum verum J.Presl (Lauraceae; Cinnamomum terminal branchlet), Paeonia lactiflora Pall.

Results

Conclusion