The therapeutic effect of bilobalide on Parkinson's disease possibly through anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanism

Abstract

The ginkgolides are effective in the treatment ofParkinson’s disease (PD). Pharmacological studies have shown that bilobalide(BB) plays an important role in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective and nutritional functions. To observe the therapeutic potential of BB in PD, and explore its possible mechanisms. PD model was induced by intraperitoneal injection(ip) of MPTP into male C57BL/6 mice, which were divided into MPTP group, BB group. In the first week, MPTP group and BB group received ip MPTP with concentrations of 15 mg/kg on the first day, 20 mg/kg on the second day, and 30 mg/kg on the third to seventh days. BB was ip. injected (40 mg/kg/day) at the beginning of second week. The injection of saline was set up as control in a similar manner. BB can effectively relieve motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms of PD patients through multiple pathways, such as anti-inflammatory, dopaminergic neuron protection and nerve regeneration. Flow cytometry analysis showed that BB reduced CD4+IFN-γ+ and CD4+IL-4+. Using immunofluorescence staining and western blotting, BB may significantly inhibit the expression of iNOS, while promoting the expression of Arginase-1, Neun, BDNF, GDNF in brain compared with the MPTP group, and promoted the survival and regeneration of dopaminergic neurons. BB may achieve the purpose of dopaminergic neuron protection and nerve regeneration by inhibiting the inflammatory reaction, promoting the transformation of glial cells and secreting neurotrophic factor. (NNSF of China 81473577, Shanxi Scholarship Council of China 2014-7, the 2011 Cultivation Project of SUTCM 2011PY-1. Ma and Xiao are corresponding authors).