Deciphering Electron-Shuttling Characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease Medicines via Bioenergy Extraction in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

As ortho- or para-polyhydroxybenzene-bearing aromatics could express bioenergy-stimulating characteristics to microbial fuel cells (MFCs), this novel study specifically selected the Parkinson’s disease (PD)-associated medicines, quantitatively assessing electrochemical characteristics and bioenergy-promoting capabilities for bioenergy extraction. (Bio)­electrochemical characteristics of dopamine (DA) and seven representative medicines were evaluated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and MFCs. DA, L-DOPA (levodopa), and apomorphine (APO) would effectively perform with electron-shuttling characteristics, but others would not. In addition, at appropriate concentrations, trihydroxybenzene-benserazide (BSZ) exhibited antioxidant properties. As MFC results revealed, the rank of bioenergy stimulating capabilities was DA > BSZ > L-DOPA ∼ APO. As electron shuttles (ESs), only polyhydroxybenzenes-associated PD medicines exhibited promising bioelectricity-augmenting performance in MFCs. The numbers of hydroxyl groups (e.g., dihydroxybenzene and trihydroxybenzene) and positions (e.g., ortho- or para-positions) among hydroxyl groups also significantly affected electrochemical activities to stimulate bioenergy extraction. As outstanding ESs, hydroxyhydroquinone, pyrogallol, and hydroquinone could augment bioelectricity generation ca. 4–6 fold in MFCs.

Synergistic deciphering of bioenergy production and electron transport characteristics to screen traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for COVID-19 drug development

“…Considering others acting as immunomodulatory agents, bioactive polysaccharides obtained from herbal extracts were also known to exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 [33] . With comparison of these antiviral activity-associated contents at different levels, follow-up inspections tended to reveal the rankings of these antiviral activities also showed to be bioenergy expression-steered and electron mediation-associated as keystone neurotransmitters unveiled in prior works [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] .…”

“…Regarding double chamber (DC)-MFC operation [ 8 , 9 ], the soaking areas of graphite anode and cathode (Grade: IGS743; Central Carbon Co., Ltd) with culture broth or electrolyte solutions ca. 0.001649 m 2 (i.e., the cathode and anode chamber (operating volume 200 mL) were selectively isolated by proton exchange membrane (DuPont™ Nafion® NR-212) in an immersed area ca.…”

“…Time courses of electric current (I MFC ) and voltage (V MFC ) were automatically determined with a D/A system (DAS 5020; Jiehan Tech. Corp., Taiwan) [ 8 , 9 ]. To have identical basis for comparison, 1 KΩ external resistance was applied to MFCs.…”

“…As a matter of fact, recent findings [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] indicated that several refreshment-oriented herbal medicines (e.g., Lonicera japonica, Syzygium aromaticum, Camellia green tea) and brain disorder-treated neurotransmitter medicines were found to be electrochemically active due to their promising electron-shuttling and bioenergy-stimulating capabilities. They possessed antioxidant polyphenolics structures; in particular, most of them contained abundant compositions bearing chemical structures with ortho -dihydroxyl substituents on benzene ring for outstanding electron-shuttling potentials.…”

“…To minimize mass-transfer resistance for maximal bioelectricity-generating and/or stimulating capabilities, exogenous supplement of nutrient sources or electron shuttles (ESs; electrochemically active catalysts) [7] could be employed to considerably augment electron transfer (ET) phenomena, leading to noteworthy rises in bioelectric power output. In fact, prior studies indicated that bioenergy-extracting features were of great importance to clinical treatment of neurotransmitter-associated diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease (PD)) [ 8 , 9 ]. For instance, prior first-attempt studies clearly revealed that ortho -dihydroxyl substituents ( o -diOH)-bearing dopamine (DA), epinephrine (EP), levodopa) directly associated to control functions of the central nervous system in human brain and body were strongly correlated to bioenergy-stimulating and electron mediating o -diOH chemicals.…”