Objective: Oxidative stress which is an important factor in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) leads to the selective loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons in PD. Resveratrol is a well known antioxidant that exerts extensive pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of resveratrol derived from Polygonum cuspidatum and its liposomal form on nigral cells of PD rats.
Methods: A rat PD model was established by unilateral microinjection of 6-hydroxy dopamine in the striatum. Then, P. cuspidatum and its liposomal form were intragastrically administered once daily for 2 consecutive weeks. The behaviors, tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells, apoptotic cells, ROS level and total antioxidant capacity were determined.
Results: Our results showed after 14 days of oral treatment with resveratrol or resveratrol liposome (20 mg/kg per day), the abnormal rotational behavior, the loss and apoptosis of nigral cells, and the levels of total reactive oxygen species were markedly decreased and the total antioxidant capability of nigral tissues significantly improved. Furthermore, resveratrol liposome showed more profound effects than free resveratrol.
Conclusion: Resveratrol derived from P. cuspidatum and its liposomal form could protect the dopaminergic neurons in PD rats, to which their radical scavenging ability and antioxidant properties may attribute. Presumably due to the increased bioavailability, resveratrol liposome exerts more potent protection and may become a promising agent for the treatment of PD than free resveratrol.
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