07/07/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
Research has shown that certain seaweeds have the potential to prevent the onset of Parkinson’s disease. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, looked at the ability of antioxidant-rich seaweeds to protect brain cells from the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, also known as oxidopamine), a chemical used to simulate Parkinson’s disease.
In the study, researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria in Portugal tested this theory using the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, including its associated intracellular signaling pathways, and conducted an MTT assay to determine cell viability. In addition, the group assessed the intracellular signaling pathways hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and Caspase-3 activity. These parameters determine how healthy the SH-SY5Y cells are. Changes in these parameters affect cell viability.
The team used seaweeds known to have potent antioxidant activity in the study, including peacock’s tail (Padina pavonica), Japanese wireweed (Sargassum muticum), furbellow (Saccorhiza polyschides), velvet horn (Codium tomentosum), and green alga (Ulva compressa).
From the assays, the researchers noted that cell death occurred after being exposed to oxidopamine. The presence of oxidopamine caused an increase in H2O2 production, the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the increase in Caspase-3 activity, decreasing cell viability. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunctions, neuroinflammatory processes, and the formation of pathologic inclusions add to nerve cell death in Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, they found that the seaweed extracts efficiently prevented the death of SH-SY5Y cells upon oxidopamine exposure. This may be due to the decrease in the production of H2O2, the protection of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the decrease in Caspase-3 activity. These indicate that the seaweed extracts caused a significant reduction in oxidative stress and exhibited an anti-apoptotic effect.
In conclusion, the findings of the study indicated that the extracts of peacocks tail, Japanese wireweed, furbellow, velvet horn, and green alga seaweeds contain potent antioxidant properties that reduce oxidative stress, which in turn, prevents Parkinson’s disease.
The cure for Parkinson’s disease remains elusive until now – which means that more effort is needed to prevent or slow down its progression. Unfortunately, more than 10 million people around the world are living with the disease. Some of the complications that come with Parkinson’s disease include tremor, slowed movement, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, and changes in speech and writing.
Here are five things that can help you prevent Parkinson’s disease:
Read more news stories and studies on preventing Parkinson’s disease by going to Brain.news.
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Tagged Under: Brain, brain function, Codium tomentosum, discoveries, disease prevention, furbellow, green alga, Japanese wireweed, natural cures, natural medicine, Natural Treatments, neurodegenerative disease, oxidative stress, Padina pavonica, Parkinson's Disease, peacocks tail, phytonutrients, research, Saccorhiza polyschides, Sargassum muticum, seaweeds, Ulva compressa, velvet horn