Preventive effects of a standardized flavonoid extract of safflower in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease rat model

Nuramatjan Ablat; Runzhe Liu; Mihray Ablimit; Yi Sun; Feng Xu; Xin Zhao; Hongbin Han; Xiaoping Pu

doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109209

Preventive effects of a standardized flavonoid extract of safflower in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease rat model

Neuropharmacology. 2022 Oct 1:217:109209. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109209. Epub 2022 Aug 5.

Authors

Nuramatjan Ablat¹, Runzhe Liu², Mihray Ablimit³, Yi Sun⁴, Feng Xu⁵, Xin Zhao⁶, Hongbin Han⁷, Xiaoping Pu⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China. Electronic address: nuramatjan817@bjmu.edu.cn.
² State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: 1110307320@pku.edu.cn.
³ Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Shache County Dunbag Township Health Center, 844700, China. Electronic address: mihray0524@126.com.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: sunyi@bjmu.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: xufeng_pharm@163.com.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: zhaoxin2010@bjmu.edu.cn.
⁷ Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China; Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: hanhongbin@bjmu.edu.cn.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: pxp123@bjmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35940347
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109209

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that occurs after Alzheimer's disease. Rotenone is a neurotoxin commonly used in creating PD models. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) contains some flavonoids that are effective against neurodegenerative diseases, and it has long been used in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases in China. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of safflower standardized flavonoid extract (SAFE) on a rotenone-induced PD rat model. The results showed that SAFE (17.5, 35, or 70 mg kg^-1·day^-1) treatment modified the progressive loss in body weight, alleviated behavioral deficits, and promoted survival, especially in the middle-dose SAFE (35 mg kg^-1·day^-1) group. SAFE treatment significantly modifies the progressive decrease in the level of DA and its metabolites, DOPAC and HVA, 5-HT and its metabolite 5-HIAA in the St, and levels of TH-positive DA-ergic neurons in the SNpc. SAFE also inhibited the decrease in TH and DA levels and increase in Ach content in the St. SAFE (35 mg kg^-1·day^-1) group treatment modifying the rotenone-induced downregulation of JAK2, STAT3, and ɑ7-nAChR, and also modifying the increase in ACh in the hippocampus. SAFE preventive treatment can also partially inhibit changes in the ECS parameters associated with PD. The marker components of SAFE such as Kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside or anhydrosafflor yellow B can bind with TH, JAK2, STAT3, and ɑ7-nAChR based on molecular docking analyses. Current studies have shown that SAFE is a potential candidate for the prevention of PD.

Keywords: Dopamine; MRI; Parkinson's disease; Preventive effects; Safflower flavonoid extract.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Carthamus tinctorius* / metabolism
Flavonoids* / metabolism
Flavonoids* / pharmacology
Molecular Docking Simulation
Parkinson Disease*
Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
Rats
Rotenone* / toxicity

Substances

Flavonoids
Plant Extracts
Rotenone