The effect of an Indian traditional Ayurvedic formulation (Rasa-sindoor) on Parkinson disease mouse model

Ayurveda is a traditional medication system in India. Experimental validation of ayurvedic formulations to combat with progressive, non-curable diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and knowing their mode of action are of current interest. The present study was aimed to explore the effect of dietary supplement of Rasa-sindoor (RS), an organo-metallic derivative of mercury, on drug (MPTP: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) induced mouse model of Parkinson disease (PD). For this, mice were divided into three groups: (1) vehicle control (Normal saline treated), (2) Treated 1 (MPTP treated: 15mg/kg body weight, twice a day in 2 hours interval for 2 days, intraperitoneal injection) and (3) Treated 2 (MPTP: same as Treated 1 and Rasa Sindoor: 1gm/kg RS twice a day for 4 days). Total cellular RNA was extracted from sacrificed mice brain tissue and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) in 100 µ section of mid-brain region to check dopaminergic neurodegeneration.  IHC revealed reduced TH activity in Treated 1 and Treated 2 as compared to vehicle control while Treated 2 showed greater TH activity than that of Treated 1. This preliminary observation was followed by a microarray based gene expression analysis, which results differential expression of a new set of genes involving neurogenesis, growth cone formation and axon guidance, activation of latent precursor cells etc.; validated by semi-quantitative real time PCR. Our result suggests that RS is neuroprotective and its mode of action may be through prevention of cell apoptosis and activation of latent precursor cells and cell growth.