Anthocyanin-Rich Blueberry Extract Ameliorates the Behavioral Deficits of MPTP-Induced Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease via Anti-Oxidative Mechanisms

The pathological process of Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and dopaminergic neuronal loss. Recent studies have suggested that the fruits rich in anthocyanins (ANC) were neuroprotective, and then could reduce the risk of PD. This study was designed to investigate the effects of the ANC rich blueberry extracts (BBE) on the behavior and the oxidative stress in the mouse model of PD induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). After 3 weeks of BBE administration, we monitored the behavioral alterations and measured the level of dopamine (DA), enzymatic tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), non-enzymatic malonaldehyde (MDA), enzymatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in the brain and serum. Our results demonstrated that the behavioral impairment, the increased MDA level and the decreased SOD and GSH-PX activities in the MPTP-induced PD mice, were significantly attenuated by BBE administration (p < 0.05). This study suggested that anthocyanin-rich BBE should have neuroprotective effects through the anti-oxidative mechanisms.