Researchers from the Institute of Organic Biology in the Russian Far East have discovered that a natural compound extracted from the "Alpha" grape variety is capable of protecting nerve cells from death in the event of Parkinson's disease.
In experiments conducted on mice, the compound known as trans-vitamin not only improved motor function but also helped restore memory, without causing the side effects characteristic of standard treatment. The study's findings were published in the journal Antioxidants.
The institute noted that although scientists only conducted preclinical tests, the study opens up prospects for the possibility of activating the cells' self-protection mechanisms with the help of natural compounds, rather than simply combating the symptoms of the disease in traditional ways.
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. It 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 its ability to control movements, resulting in symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. However, the problem isn't limited to motor impairments; over time, patients may also develop cognitive impairments, depression, and dementia.
Current treatments, such as the drug levodopa (L-DOPA), only provide temporary symptom relief by replacing the missing dopamine. They do not stop the death of nerve cells, lose their effectiveness over time, and can cause severe side effects, including involuntary movements and dyskinesia.
For this reason, specialists worldwide are searching for substances that can influence the causes of disease, not just its consequences. And as it turns out, one such promising substance may be hidden in grapes.
The research team focused on a compound called trans-vitasein (tVB), a complex molecule made up 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 potent.
In laboratory experiments, the authors tested the effect of trans-vitamin B (tVB) on microglia, immune cells in the brain that, in Parkinson's disease, become highly inflammatory and cause neuronal death by releasing pro-inflammatory substances and reactive oxygen species. They found that even at low concentrations (0.1–10 μM), trans-vitamin B inhibited the production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α by 77% and 11%, respectively. It also reduced levels of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species that damage cell membranes and mitochondria.
The most interesting phase began when the researchers moved from cell cultures to living organisms. In a model of Parkinson's disease in mice, induced using the neurotoxin rotenone, "trans-vitisin" showed promising results.
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