Efeito do extrato de quinoa vermelha em um modelo experimental tipo doença de Parkinson em Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Oxidative stress and inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are shown to be possible factors involved in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Quinoa, a pseudocereal important source of bioactive compounds, presents its antioxidant properties with protective action against mediators that may lead to the development of PD. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of red quinoa extract in an experimental model of rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease in Drosophila melanogaster. The flies, males and females with 1 to 3 days of age were separated into four groups, with 50 flies for group: (1) control; (2) quinoa extract (5.0 mg / mL); (3) rotenone (500 μM) and (4) rotenone (500 μM) + quinoa extract (5.0 mg / mL). Flies were concomitantly exposed to a diet containing rotenone and / or red quinoa extract for 7 days according to their respective groups. Survival rate, mortality and negative geotaxia and open field behavioral tests were performed in vivo and the evaluation of the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase were performed ex vivo. Our results show that exposure to rotenone caused higher mortality, greater locomotor deficiency observed in behavioral tests, and decreased activity of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the head making it incapable of hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The damage caused by rotenone was prevented by co-exposure to quinoa extract. This protection may be related to the antioxidant potential of the extract, and its use may be suggested for possible treatments against the development of PD.