Volume 2017, Issue 1 8429290
Research Article
Open Access

Passiflora cincinnata Extract Delays the Development of Motor Signs and Prevents Dopaminergic Loss in a Mice Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Luiz Eduardo Mateus Brandão

Luiz Eduardo Mateus Brandão

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Diana Aline Morais Ferreira Nôga

Diana Aline Morais Ferreira Nôga

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Aline Lima Dierschnabel

Aline Lima Dierschnabel

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Clarissa Loureiro das Chagas Campêlo

Clarissa Loureiro das Chagas Campêlo

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Ywlliane da Silva Rodrigues Meurer

Ywlliane da Silva Rodrigues Meurer

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Ramón Hypolito Lima

Ramón Hypolito Lima

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Rovena Clara Galvão Januário Engelberth

Rovena Clara Galvão Januário Engelberth

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Jeferson Souza Cavalcante

Jeferson Souza Cavalcante

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil ufrn.br

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Clésio Andrade Lima

Clésio Andrade Lima

Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil ufs.br

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Murilo Marchioro

Murilo Marchioro

Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil ufs.br

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Charles dos Santos Estevam

Charles dos Santos Estevam

Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil ufs.br

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José Ronaldo Santos

José Ronaldo Santos

Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil ufs.br

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Regina Helena Silva

Regina Helena Silva

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil unifesp.br

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Alessandra Mussi Ribeiro

Corresponding Author

Alessandra Mussi Ribeiro

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil unifesp.br

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First published: 01 August 2017
Citations: 15
Academic Editor: Gunhyuk Park

Abstract

Passiflora cincinnata Masters is a Brazilian native species of passionflower. This genus is known in the American continent folk medicine for its diuretic and analgesic properties. Nevertheless, few studies investigated possible biological effects of P. cincinnata extracts. Further, evidence of antioxidant actions encourages the investigation of possible neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the effect of the P. cincinnata ethanolic extract (PAS) on mice submitted to a progressive model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) induced by reserpine. Male (6-month-old) mice received reserpine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), every other day, for 40 days, with or without a concomitant treatment with daily injections of PAS (25 mg/kg, i.p.). Catalepsy, open field, oral movements, and plus-maze discriminative avoidance evaluations were performed across treatment, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase was conducted at the end. The results showed that PAS treatment delayed the onset of motor impairments and prevented the occurrence of increased catalepsy behavior in the premotor phase. However, PAS administration did not modify reserpine-induced cognitive impairments. Moreover, PAS prevented the decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) induced by reserpine. Taken together, our results suggested that PAS exerted a neuroprotective effect in a progressive model of PD.

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