I think it is fair to say that alpha-synclein misfolding and subsequent clumping forms an essential role in the pathogenesis of PD. With this in mind, it seems reasonable to target anything that slows this process.

According to Wikipedia [1]:

"Cuminaldehyde is a constituent of the essential oils of eucalyptus, myrrh, cassia, cumin and others ... It has been shown that cuminaldehyde, as a small molecule, inhibits the fibrillation of alpha-synuclein, ... which, if aggregated, forms insoluble fibrils in pathological conditions characterized by Lewy bodies, such as Parkinson's disease ..."

Recently published work by Morshedi et al. [2] reinforces this. They write:

"In comparison with baicalein, a well-known inhibitor of α-SN fibrillation, cuminaldehyde showed the same activity in some aspects and a different activity on other parameters influencing α-SN fibrillation. The presence of spermidine, an α-SN fibrillation inducer, dominantly enforced the inhibitory effects of cuminaldehyde even more intensively than baicalein. Furthermore, the results from experiments using preformed fibrils and monobromobimane-labeled monomeric protein also suggest that cuminaldehyde prevents α-SN fibrillation even in the presence of seeds, having no disaggregating impact on the preformed fibrils."

Has anyone in this forum got experience of these botanicals?

References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuminaldehyde

[2] J Food Sci. 2015 Oct;80(10):H2336-45. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.13016. Epub 2015 Sep 9. "Cuminaldehyde as the Major Component of Cuminum cyminum, a Natural Aldehyde with Inhibitory Effect on Alpha-Synuclein Fibrillation and Cytotoxicity."
Morshedi D1, Aliakbari F1, Tayaranian-Marvian A1, Fassihi A2, Pan-Montojo F3,4, Pérez-Sánchez H2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26351865 (Abstract only)

John