An Overview of Parkinson's Disease: Curcumin as a Possible Alternative Treatment

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain and basal ganglia, followed by dopamine deficiency in the brain. Dopamine plays a crucial role in motor coordination, memory, and cognition; its decrease in PD leads to dyskinesia, cognitive deficits, and depression. In addition, the formation of alpha-synuclein protein aggregates (Lewy bodies) causes further damage to the CNS. Current treatment options include dopamine precursors, inhibitors of dopamine metabolism, upregulation of autophagy, adenosine A2A antagonists, and surgical intervention as a last resort. A challenge arises from a progressive decrease in treatment efficacy as the disease progresses and this necessitates exploration of adjunctive treatments. Epidemiological studies suggest that the prevalence of PD varies between ethnic groups of Caucasians, Asians, and African Americans. Notably, the prevalence of PD is lower in countries of Southeastern Asia including India. The differences in the diet of various ethnic groups may suggest an origin for this difference in the prevalence of PD. One staple ingredient in traditional Asian cuisine is turmeric. Curcuma longa , popularly known as turmeric, is an orange tuberous rhizome that has been used for centuries in traditional Indian cuisine and traditional medicine. Turmeric contains curcumin, a potent antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species and chelates toxic metals. Curcumin has been proposed to be a neuroprotective agent due to its potent antioxidative properties. Though preliminary studies in animal model systems have suggested a protective effect of curcumin on dopaminergic neurons, the direct benefits of curcumin on the progress of PD remains poorly understood. In this review, we explore the promising use of curcumin as an adjunct to conventional PD treatments in order to enhance treatment and improve outcomes.

Dual Mechanism of Action of Curcumin in Experimental Models of Multiple Sclerosis

“…Conversely, curcumin administration at a dose of 100 mg/kg attenuated brain oxidative stress when compared to the CPZ and SR groups. In support of these findings, it has been shown that curcumin alleviates oxidative injury of the nervous system in models of Alzheimer’s disease [ 54 ], epilepsy [ 55 ] and Parkinson’s disease [ 56 ].…”

The Role of Biological Rhythms in New Drug Formulations to Cross the Brain Barriers

“…Huan Peng et al constructed a nanocarrier for nasal administration with exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have a therapeutic effect on PD by themselves, mainly due to the presence of micro RNAs (miRNAs) and proteins [ 158 ]. In addition, they utilized curcumin, which can inhibit the aggregation of α-synuclein and reduce the toxicity of aggregates to dopaminergic neurons [ 159 ]. Moreover, SPIONs were also assembled to be used as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for the purpose of tracking the accumulation of nanocarriers in the brain.…”

L-lysine Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles for pH-Responsive Delivery of Curcumin

“…Curcumin is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help reduce inflammation associated with chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Curcumin may also possess neuroprotective effects, which may aid in the prevention of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease [ 12 , 13 ].…”