Curcumin and piperine combination improves motor function through attenuation of α-synuclein aggregation in drosophila melanogaster model of Parkinson disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by Lewy bodies formation (mainly phosphorylated and aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn), with subsequent neurotoxicity and death of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia. Interestingly, neuroprotective actions of curcumin and piperine are well reported, hence, this study was carried out to assess the protective effect of curcumin and piperine in Drosophila melanogaster model of PD expressing human α-synuclein (SNCA) in dopamine neuron (DDC).
Drosophila melanogaster (male UAS-synuclein flies (SNCA) were crossed with virgin wild-type Canton-S, DDCGAL4 or UASsynuclein> GMR-GAL4 virgin flies) cultured on either medium containing graded concentrations of curcumin or piperine (5, 10, and 50 μM) or vehicle. The parameters measured include fecundity, larva motility, negative geotaxis, and lifespan. Vehicle, curcumin or piperine supplementation in SNCA>Cs, SNCA>DDC or SNCA>GMR flies did not affect fecundity nor larva motility but piperine (5 and 10μM but not 50μM) supplementation reduced fecundity. Reduction in climbing performance and lifespan which peaked in week 4 (SNCA>DDC) were ameliorated by curcumin and piperine combination. Moreover, the increased aggregation of synuclein evidenced in ommatidial degeneration in SNCA>GMR flies eyes were attenuated by curcumin and piperine combination. Findings from the present study further reinforced the potential benefit of curcumin and piperine in the management of PD.