[reverett123]

Translation - it works on symptoms at least


1: Neurotox Res. 2009 Feb;15(2):111-22. Epub 2009 Feb 20.

Assessment of symptomatic and neuroprotective efficacy of mucuna pruriens seed
extract in rodent model of Parkinson's disease.

Kasture S, Pontis S, Pinna A, Schintu N, Spina L, Longoni R, Simola N, Ballero M,
Morelli M.

Department of Pharmacology, MGV's Pharmacy College, Nashik, 422 003, India.

Mucuna pruriens (MP) has long been used in Indian traditional medicine as support
in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, no systematic preclinical
studies that aimed at evaluating the efficacy of this substance are available to
date. This study undertook an extensive evaluation of the antiparkinsonian
effects of an extract of MP seeds known to contain, among other components, 12.5%
L: -dihydroxyphenylalanine (L: -DOPA), as compared to equivalent doses of L:
-DOPA. Moreover, the neuroprotective efficacy of MP and its potential rewarding
effects were evaluated. The results obtained reveal how an acute administration
of MP extract at a dose of 16 mg/kg (containing 2 mg/kg of L: -DOPA) consistently
antagonized the deficit in latency of step initiation and adjusting step induced
by a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion, whereas L: -DOPA was equally effective
only at the doses of 6 mg/kg. At the same dosage, MP significantly improved the
placement of the forelimb in vibrissae-evoked forelimb placing, suggesting a
significant antagonistic activity on both motor and sensory-motor deficits. The
effects of MP extract were moreover investigated by means of the turning behavior
test and in the induction of abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) after either
acute or subchronic administration. MP extract acutely induced a significantly
higher contralateral turning behavior than L: -DOPA (6 mg/kg) when administered
at a dose of 48 mg/kg containing 6 mg/kg of L: -DOPA. On subchronic
administration, both MP extract (48 mg/kg) and L: -DOPA (6 mg/kg) induced
sensitization of contralateral turning behavior; however, L: -DOPA alone induced
a concomitant sensitization in AIMs suggesting that the dyskinetic potential of
MP is lower than that of L: -DOPA. MP (48 mg/kg) was also effective in
antagonizing tremulous jaw movements induced by tacrine, a validated test
reproducing parkinsonian tremor. Furthermore, MP induced no compartment
preference in the place preference test, indicating the lack of components
characterized by rewarding effects in the extract. Finally, in a subchronic mice
model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride
(MPTP)-induced dopamine neuron degeneration, MP extract did not prove capable of
preventing either tyrosine hydroxylase decrease induced by MPTP or astroglial or
microglial activation as assessed by means of GFAP and CD11b
immunohistochemistry, supporting the absence of neuroprotective effects by MP.
Characterization MP extract strongly supports its antiparkinsonian activity.


PMID: 19384573 [PubMed - in process]