Objective: The present study was carried out to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of quercetin (a flavonol) against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity.

Background: Rotenone (pesticide) induced animal model of PD has been used to investigate the pathogenesis of PD. Oxidative stress is one of the main contributor of neurodegeneration in PD. However, flavonoids have an ability to prevent mitochondrial complex I inhibition and modulate neuronal functions. Quercetin is a flavonol and its neuroprotective ability is associated with antioxidant nature.

Method: Rats were pre- and post-administered with quercetin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) for two weeks following rotenone (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.) administration for 8 days. After the treatment behavioral activities were monitored for motor activity, depression and cognitive changes. Rats were decapitated after behavioral analysis and brain was dissected out for neurochemical and biochemical estimation.

Results: Results showed that pre- and post-supplementation of quercetin significantly (p<0.01) restored rotenone-induced motor and non-motor deficits. Moreover, quercetin supplementation significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (p<0.01) and dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels (p<0.01) as compared to rotenone administered group.

Conclusion: Our findings showed that quercetin pre- and post-supplementation improves the neurotransmitter levels by inhibiting oxidative stress via increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and hence improves motor activity, cognitive functions and reverses depressive behavior. The results of the present study suggest that quercetin pre-supplementation produced more significant results as compared to post-supplementation. These findings show that quercetin can be a potential therapeutic agent in order to reduce the risk and progression of PD.

References: [1] N. Sriraksa, J. Wattanathorn, S. Muchimapura, S. Tiamkao, K. Brown, K. Chaisiwamongkol. Cognitive-enhancing effect of quercetin in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine. Evid Based Complement Alternt Med. 2012 (2012). [2] L.G. Costa, J.M. Garrick, P.J. Roquè, C. Pellacani, Mechanisms of neuroprotection by quercetin: counteracting oxidative stress and more, Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016 (2016). [3] S. Madiha, S. Tabassum, Z. Batool, L. Liaquat, S. Sadir, S. Shahzad, T. Perveen, S. Haider. Assessment of gait dynamics in rotenone-induced rat model of Parkinson’s disease by footprint method. Pak J Pharm Sci. 30 (2017) 943–948.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/quercetin-administration-abrogates-the-parkinsons-disease-pd-like-motor-and-non-motor-symptoms-and-attenuates-the-behavioral-neurochemical-and-biochemical-deficits-induced-by-rotenone-toxi/