The antioxidant efficacy of Syagrus coronata fixed oil in reverting rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in mice

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, resulting in severe motor disabilities. Although current PD therapies aim to mitigate dopaminergic loss and alleviate symptoms, a more reliable alternative remains elusive. Oxidative stress significantly contributes to PD's development and progression. Consequently, researchers are diligently exploring novel antioxidant agents that hold potential in preventing disease progression. Syagrus coronata (S. coronata) is a palm tree native to the Brazilian caatinga. Notably, the seeds of S. coronata contain a fixed oil that is abundant in medium and long chain fatty acids, including lauric acid (36 %), caprylic acid (24 %), capric acid (14 %), myristic acid (14 %), and oleic acid (12 %), among others. In this study, we delve into the antioxidant effects of S. coronata on ameliorating motor dysfunction induced by rotenone. To deepen our understanding, we employed docking analysis to elucidate potential interactions between the lipid components of S. coronata and critical antioxidant enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) from Mus musculus and Homo sapiens. Additionally, we measured the in vitro antioxidant profile of the S. coronata administration using specific assays. Our findings collectively highlight the efficacy of S. coronata oil in reversing motor impairments induced by rotenone in mice in the rotarod (F(5,48)= 9,66, *p < 0.0001) and in the open field test (F(5,48) = 12, *p < 0.0001). Notably, molecular docking analysis suggested robust interactions with key antioxidant enzymes like SOD and GPX. Subsequent in vitro assays demonstrated that administering the S. coronata oil led to a reversal in the NADPH oxidase stimulation (F5,18)=62.18, *p < 0.0001) and superoxide production (F5,18)=10,62, *p < 0.0001) caused by rotenone. Simultaneously, it prompted an increase in the activity of the enzyme catalase (F(5,18) = 14.41, p < 0.001). These findings further bolster our hypothesis that the neuroprotective mechanism elicited by S. coronata is attributed to its potent antioxidant properties. As a result, the oil holds promise in counteracting the neurotoxicity induced by rotenone.