Alpha Pinene Affects Intestinal Permeability and Protects the Gastrointestinal System Against Rotenone Toxicity via...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Rotenone is a neurotoxic pesticide used to model Parkinson's disease in rodents.
• Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease.
• Protecting the gastrointestinal system is crucial for managing Parkinson's disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of Rotenone on the stomach and small intestine.
• To evaluate the potential protective role of Alpha Pinene against Rotenone-induced toxicity.
• To understand the impact on oxidative stress and intestinal permeability.

Main Methods:

• Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: Control, Vehicle, Alpha Pinene, Rotenone, and Rotenone + Alpha Pinene.
• A 28-day experimental period was followed by histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses of stomach and jejunum tissues.
• Techniques included H&E, Alcian blue-PAS staining, MDA, zonulin, FABP-2 assays, and Keap1, Nrf2, HO-1 mRNA analysis.

Main Results:

• Rotenone administration induced oxidative stress and impaired intestinal permeability in the stomach and jejunum.
• Co-administration of Alpha Pinene with Rotenone significantly alleviated these Rotenone-induced symptoms.
• Biochemical and molecular markers indicated a reduction in oxidative damage and improved intestinal barrier function.

Conclusions:

• Alpha Pinene demonstrates a protective effect against Rotenone toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Alpha Pinene may be a valuable natural compound for mitigating gastrointestinal issues associated with diseases like Parkinson's.
• Further research into Alpha Pinene as a therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal protection is warranted.