Effects of Five Ayurvedic Herbs on Locomotor Behaviour in a Drosophila melanogaster Parkinson's Disease Model

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2014-12, Vol.28 (12), p.1789-1795
• Main Authors: Jansen, R. L. M, Brogan, B, Whitworth, A. J, Okello, E. J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Ayurveda; Ayurvedic medicine; Bacopa - chemistry; Bacopa monnieri; Centella - chemistry; Centella asiatica; climbing ability; disease models; Disease Models, Animal; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - drug effects; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Drosophila Proteins - metabolism; fruit flies; herbs; India; L-dopa; Levodopa; Medicine, Ayurvedic; Motor Activity - drug effects; Mucuna - chemistry; Mucuna pruriens; mutants; Parkinson Disease; Parkinson's disease; PINK1; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal - chemistry; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Sida cordifolia; Withania - chemistry; Withania somnifera
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5199

Current conventional treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD) are aimed at symptom management, as there is currently no known cure or treatment that can slow down its progression. Ayurveda, the ancient medical system of India, uses a combination of herbs to combat the disease. Herbs commonly used for this purpose are Zandopa (containing Mucuna pruriens), Withania somnifera, Centella asiatica, Sida cordifolia and Bacopa monnieri. In this study, these herbs were tested for their potential ability to improve climbing ability of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) PD model based on loss of function of phosphatase and tensin‐induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1). Fruit flies were cultured on food containing individual herbs or herbal formulations, a combination of all five herbs, levodopa (positive control) or no treatment (negative control). Tests were performed in both PINK1 mutant flies and healthy wild‐type (WT) flies. A significant improvement in climbing ability was observed in flies treated with B. monnieri compared with untreated PINK1 mutant flies. However, a significant decrease in climbing ability was observed in WT flies for the same herb. Centella asiatica also significantly decreased climbing ability in WT flies. No significant effects were observed with any of the other herbs in either PINK1 or WT flies compared with untreated flies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.