A compound from grapes shows promising results in treating Parkinson's disease in mice

In experiments on mice, the compound known as trans-vitesin not only improved motor functions, but also helped restore memory, without causing the side effects characteristic of standard treatment. The results of the study were published in the journal Antioxidants.

The institute indicated that although scientists conducted only pre-clinical tests, the study opens horizons for the possibility of activating cell self-protection mechanisms with the help of natural compounds, instead of simply combating the symptoms of the disease with traditional methods.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. The disease develops when dopaminergic neurons begin to die on a large scale in a specific area of ​​the brain known as the substantia nigra. Without dopamine, the brain loses the ability to control movements, and symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and slow movement appear. But the problem is not limited to movement disorders, as patients develop cognitive disorders, depression, and dementia over time.

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Current therapeutic methods, such as the drug levodopa (L-DOPA), only relieve symptoms temporarily, as they replace the missing dopamine. They do not stop the death of nerve cells, and they lose their effectiveness over time, and may cause severe side effects, including involuntary movements and dyskinesia.

For this reason, specialists around the world are searching for substances that can influence the causes of disease, not just its consequences. As it turns out, one of the most promising substances may be hiding in grapes.

The research team focused on a compound called "trans-vitesin" (tVB), which is a complex molecule consisting of four resveratrol molecules linked together. Resveratrol has long been known for its antioxidant properties, but its tetramer form has been shown to be much more effective.

In laboratory experiments, the authors tested the effect of tVB on microglia, which are immune cells in the brain that, in Parkinson's disease, switch to an active proinflammatory state and cause neuronal death by secreting proinflammatory substances and reactive oxygen species. It turns out that even at low concentrations (0.1–10 micromolar), trans-vitcin inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α by 77% and 11%, respectively. It also reduces the level of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species that damage cell membranes and mitochondria.

The most interesting phase began when researchers moved from cell cultures to living organisms. In a model of Parkinson's disease in mice, it was induced with the neurotoxin rotenone, and trans-vitesin showed promising results.