Type 3 resistant starch from Canna edulis improves Parkinson’s symptoms, including behavioral function and nerve damage, in Parkinson’s model rats by regulating the gut–brain axis

Abstract

Intestinal microorganisms affect the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and, therefore, are a new research focus of PD treatment. Type 3 resistant starch from Canna edulis (Ce-RS3) regulates gut microbes and has prebiotic properties. The effects include decreased blood lipids, weight, and inflammation, as well as increased glycolipid metabolism. There are few reports on the use of prebiotics alone in the treatment of Parkinson's. In this study, based on the gut–brain axis, the pharmacological effects and related mechanisms of Ce-RS3 on PD were studied by analyzing intestinal bacteria and brain transcriptomics. Ce-RS3 improved motor function in PD model rats over a defined period and repaired PD-induced inflammation-related organ and neural damage. In addition, Ce-RS3 increased the number of short-chain fatty acid-producing, and other beneficial, bacteria. Transcriptomics showed that Ce-RS3 decreased inflammatory gene expression, upregulated the expression of the protein homeostasis-related gene Hspb1 and downregulated the expression levels of the protein aggregation-related genes Hdac6 and Ubd. Therefore, we hypothesized that Ce-RS3 plays a role in the treatment of PD by regulating the α-synuclein-related pathway through the brain–gut axis and protecting the neural tissues. This study provides a new intervention plan for the prevention and treatment of PD.