Parkinson's Disease: Is there a Role for Dietary and Herbal Supplements?

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterised by degeneration of the neurons of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway of the brain. The pharmacological cornerstone of PD management is mainly the use of dopamine precursors, dopamine receptor agonists, and agents that inhibit the biochemical degradation of dopamine. While these drugs initially provide relief to the symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patients, progression of the underlying pathological processes, such as oxidative stress and neuroinflammation (which have been strongly associated with PD and other neurodegenerative disorders), eventually reduce their benefits, making further benefits achievable, only at high doses due to which the magnitude and frequency of side-effects are amplified.

An Investigation of the Anti-Parkinsonism Potential of Co-enzyme Q and Co-enzyme Q /Levodopa-carbidopa Combination in Mice.

Despite decades of research, neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease remain a leading cause of disability worldwide, due to the insufficient reduction of disease burden by available medications. Recently, the benefits of dietary supplements like co-enzyme Q in neurodegenerative diseases have been reported. ; Aim: The protective effects of supplemental co-enzyme Q (CQ) and possible additive benefits of CQ /Levodopa-Carbidopa (LD) in Chlorpromazine (CPZ)-induced Parkinsonism-like changes in mice were investigated.