Novel anti-apoptotic L-DOPA precursors SuperDopa and SuperDopamide as potential neuroprotective agents for halting/delaying progression of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a gradual degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpC). Levodopa, the standard PD treatment, provides the missing dopamine in SNpC, but ultimately after a honeymoon with levodopa treatment the neurodegenerative process and the progression of the disease continue. Aimed at prolonging the life of dopaminergic cells, we prepared the levodopa precursors SuperDopa (SD) and SueprDopamide (SDA), in which levodopa is merged with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) into a single molecule.