THE USE OF AYURVEDIC EXTRACTS TO ALLEVIATE MOTOR SYMPTOMS IN PINK1 DROSOPHILA

AJAS · 2022 Medicine

Sanjana Parise

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Overview

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra, negatively affecting motor control and causing symptoms such as dyskinesia, or uncontrollable, involuntary muscle movement. Further, long-term use of the current treatment of L-DOPA and Dopamine agonists have been linked to dyskinesia, hallucinations, confusion, psychosis, etc. Due to the inaccessibility of modern treatments for PD in developing countries, the purpose of this study was to explore a safe, affordable, and accessible alternative method of treatment for these motor symptoms. It was hypothesized that when Mucuna pruriens (Mpe) and Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea) extracts are administered to PINK1 Drosophila, Brassica oleracea would delay the loss of motor ability in the PINK1 flies the longest because it contains sulforaphane which activates the Nrf2 pathway, promoting antioxidant activity and countering oxidative stress. However, Mpe has also been found to contain biological agents that have reduced hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity, restored damaged mitochondria, and ameliorated dopaminergic concentration. To quantify the climbing ability of the PINK1 Drosophila, which display PD-like symptoms, a climbing assay was conducted on the treatment groups, where the flies were orally administered either 32mg/100g Mpe or B. oleracea, and the control group, where the flies were administered nothing. Starting on the day of extract administration, climbing assays were conducted on each experimental group, every other day for a period of 16 days. After running a Two-way ANOVA and t-test on the results of this experiment, it was determined that only Mpe treatment showed a significant delay in the loss of the climbing ability in PINK1 Drosophila. Therefore, Mpe treatment in humans could potentially be used to help slow down the progression of PD motor symptoms, without the burden of serious side effects.

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My Story

Hello, My name is Sanjana Parise. I am from Columbia, South Carolina and I conducted research on the use of Ayurvedic extracts to alleviate motor symptoms in PINK1 Drosophila as a model of Parkinson's Disease. I would like you to entertain this situation. Imagine one of your older family members tries to reach a mug on the countertop, they find that they are unable to control the movement of their hand, and knock it over. PD causes involuntary muscle movement, which is a great hindrance to everyday life. If similar situations happen often, anyone’s first response would be to see a doctor and get medicated. However, researchers have found that there is currently a lack of Universal Levodopa Availability, and even with it, the treatment would still not be available to those who lack the resources and money to access them. This research was conducted to find potential alternatives to modern treatments of PD's Motor symptoms. Unfortunately, my first encounter with this disease was watching family friends, and relatives in India live with it. However, my interest further progressed as I was able to learn more about the biological components of it in class. I also went on to become a CNA and observed symptoms of Parkinson's in the residents of an assisted living facility. Even with this interest, my journey through research included lots of sleepless nights, staring at fruit flies, and trying to read tiny fonts on screens for hours. However, All in all, I can definitely say that conducting experimentation on this topic was worth all of the effort.

My Story

Hello, My name is Sanjana Parise. I am from Columbia, South Carolina and I conducted research on the use of Ayurvedic extracts to alleviate motor symptoms in PINK1 Drosophila as a model of Parkinson's Disease. I would like you to entertain this situation. Imagine one of your older family members tries to reach a mug on the countertop, they find that they are unable to control the movement of their hand, and knock it over. PD causes involuntary muscle movement, which is a great hindrance to everyday life. If similar situations happen often, anyone’s first response would be to see a doctor and get medicated. However, researchers have found that there is currently a lack of Universal Levodopa Availability, and even with it, the treatment would still not be available to those who lack the resources and money to access them. This research was conducted to find potential alternatives to modern treatments of PD's Motor symptoms. Unfortunately, my first encounter with this disease was watching family friends, and relatives in India live with it. However, my interest further progressed as I was able to learn more about the biological components of it in class. I also went on to become a CNA and observed symptoms of Parkinson's in the residents of an assisted living facility. Even with this interest, my journey through research included lots of sleepless nights, staring at fruit flies, and trying to read tiny fonts on screens for hours. However, all in all, I can definitely say that conducting experimentation on this topic was worth all of the effort.