Exploring the therapeutic potential of Murraya koenigii: a comprehensive study on the neuroprotective effects against rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease in mice

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Murraya koenigii (MK), often known as curry tree, with known neuroprotective properties against dementia and the oxidative stress, malfunctioning of mitochondria and scavenging activity in rotenone mediated impairments. Rotenone induces oxidative stress in CNS leading to PD-like motor dysfunctions in rodents. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of MK leaves extract on motor impairments, neurochemical variables, anti-oxidative indices, and expression of selected genes in a rotenone-induced mice model of neurodegeneration. PD symptoms were induced in male Swiss albino mice by treating them with 2.5 mg/kg rotenone for three weeks. The protective impact of MK at the dose of 200 mg/kg (in rotenone-exposed mice) was assessed through antioxidant tests, histological and striatal dopamine levels, beam walk, pole climb down, spontaneous locomotion and gene expression analysis. The outcomes demonstrated that MK treatment improved striatal dopamine levels in the mouse brain and reduced motor impairments. Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), superoxide dismutase (Sod-2), tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) and dopamine receptors (Drd-2) and oxidative stress were profoundly modulated after 200 mg/kg MK extract administration. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of Murraya koenigii extract, possibly mediated through its antioxidant properties, highlighting its prospective clinical applications in protecting the nigral dopaminergic neurons.