Unlabelled: The recalcitrant, fibrous protein keratin is found in the outermost layer of vertebrate skin, feathers, hair, horn, and hooves. Approximately, 10 million tons of keratin wastes are produced annually worldwide, of which around 8.5 million tons are from feather wastes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFeather waste is a highly prevalent form of keratinous waste that is generated by the poultry industry. The global daily production of feather waste has been shown to approach 5 million tons, typically being disposed of through methods such as dumping, landfilling, or incineration which contribute significantly to environmental pollutions. The proper management of these keratinous wastes is crucial to avoid environmental contamination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeading neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are characterized by the impairment of memory and motor functions, respectively. Despite several breakthroughs, there exists a lack of disease-modifying treatment strategies for these diseases, as the available drugs provide symptomatic relief and bring along side effects. Bioactive compounds are reported to bear neuroprotective properties with minimal toxicity, however, a detailed elucidation of their modes of neuroprotection is lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFModulation of cell signaling pathways is the key area of research towards the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Altered Nrf2-Keap1-ARE (Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-Antioxidant responsive element) and SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1) cell signaling pathways are considered to play major role in the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Strikingly, betanin, a betanidin 5-O-β-D-glucoside compound is reported to show commendable anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in several disease studies including AD and PD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDopaminergic neuroprotection is the main interest in designing novel therapeutics against Parkinson's disease (PD). In the process of dopaminergic degeneration, mitochondrial dysfunctions and inflammation are significant. While the existing drugs provide symptomatic relief against PD, a therapy conferring total neuroprotection by targeting multiple degenerative pathways is still lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is poorly understood, studies in animal models revealed loss of dopamine and the dopaminergic neurons harbouring the neurotransmitter to be the principal cause behind this neuro-motor disorder. Neuroinflammation with glial cell activation is suggested to play a significant role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Several biomolecules have been reported to confer dopaminergic neuroprotection in different animal models of PD, owing to their anti-inflammatory potentials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), a naturally-occurring plant-based flavone, is a high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) agonist and a bioactive molecule of therapeutic interest for neuronal survival, differentiation, synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. In the family of neurotrophic factors, this small BDNF-mimetic molecule has attracted considerable attention due to its oral bioavailability and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Recent evidences have shed light on the neuroprotective role of this pleiotropic flavone against several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemia, Huntington's disease, and other CNS disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is evident in early childhood and can persist throughout the entire life. The disease is basically characterized by hurdles in social interaction where the individuals demonstrate repetitive and stereotyped interests or patterns of behavior. A wide number of neuroanatomical studies with autistic patients revealed alterations in brain development which lead to diverse cellular and anatomical processes including atypical neurogenesis, neuronal migration, maturation, differentiation, and degeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeta-analyses of tea consumption and reduced risk of Parkinson's disease have thrown light in the pathway of exploring beneficial properties of tea components. On the basis of dry mass, a typical black or green tea beverage contains approximately 6% of free amino acids, which impart high quality, taste and distinctive aroma to the tea infusion. L-theanine (chemically known as γ-glutamylethylamide) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid of tea that takes part in the biosynthesis of its polyphenols.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGarcinol, the principal phytoconstituent of plants belonging to the genus Garcinia, is known for its anti-oxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties, which can be extended to its possible neuroprotective role. Recent reports disseminate the capacity of garcinol to influence neuronal growth and survival, alter the neurochemical status in brain, as well as regulate memory and cognition. The concomitant neuro-rescue property of garcinol may render it as an effective compound in Parkinson's disease (PD) therapeutics since it is capable of ameliorating the related pathophysiological changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLoss of dopamine containing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of midbrain, and resultant depletion of dopamine in the striatum is the cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), which is associated with motor abnormalities. Replenishment of dopamine by oral supplementation of its precursor, the levodopa (L-DOPA), remains the primary mode of treatment of PD, despite its potential side-effects after prolonged use in patients. To reduce the daily dosing of L-DOPA in patients, inhibitors of dopamine catabolizing enzymes, particularly monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B), are prescribed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElevated levels of cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia, HHcy) in blood have been linked with the pathology of Parkinson's disease. However, the impact of their combined effect on brain is unknown. The present study aims to investigate the effect of HHcy on dopaminergic neurons in brain of mice with hypercholesterolemia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing global health burden. Disturbance in purine metabolism pathway and a higher level of serum uric acid, called hyperuricemia, is a risk factor of CKD, and it has been linked to increased prevalence and progression of the disease. In a recent study, it has been demonstrated that purine nucleotides and uric acid alter the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: Hyperhomocysteinemia and homocysteine (Hcy) mediated dopaminergic neurotoxicity is a matter of concern in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our previous study established the involvement of oxidative stress in the substantia nigra (SN) of Hcy rat model of PD; however, the role of antioxidants, such as melatonin, was not tested in this model.
Main Methods: Melatonin (10, 20 and 30mg/kg, i.