Potential efficacy of nanocurcumin on levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a rat parkinsonian model

Abstract

BackgroundLevodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) occurs in the majority of patients in long-term levodopa administration due to the formation of free radicals, for which antioxidants like curcumin have been suggested. Because of curcumin's low bioavailability, some nano formulations have been developed. PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of nanocurcumin on LID in a parkinsonian model of rat and its antioxidant assay. Materials and methodsThirty adults male Wistar rats weighing 220±20 g were randomly divided into five equal groups. To generate parkinsonism, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 3 mg/ml) was injected into the nigrostriatal area. Levodopa (50 mg/kg, twice daily) was administered on day 15 after Parkinsonism, to induce LID. For the final three weeks, nanocurcumin was injected intraperitoneally at two different doses (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, i.p) with levodopa. Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) and Rotarod tests were performed to evaluate the movement disorders. Substantia nigra samples were collected for glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assays. ResultsThe results of the AIMS test demonstrated that nanocurcumin could reduce LID in all doses. The findings of the Rotarod test suggested that utilizing levodopa alone or in combination with nanocurcumin could help with Parkinson's disease movement abnormalities. Both the control parkinsonian and the LID groups had considerably lower glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity in antioxidant assays. In all tests, combining nanocurcumin with levodopa dramatically reduced GPx and SOD activities. ConclusionNanocurcumin was found to be beneficial in reducing LID in a rat parkinsonian model due to its antioxidant properties.