Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder marked by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the buildup of α-synuclein aggregates. The current treatments focus on symptom relief, with no drugs available to halt disease progression. This has prompted interest in plant-based...

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Main Authors: Monica Filaferro, Rossella Avallone, Cecilia Rustichelli, Giovanni Vitale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5718
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author Monica Filaferro
Rossella Avallone
Cecilia Rustichelli
Giovanni Vitale
author_facet Monica Filaferro
Rossella Avallone
Cecilia Rustichelli
Giovanni Vitale
author_sort Monica Filaferro
collection DOAJ
description Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder marked by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the buildup of α-synuclein aggregates. The current treatments focus on symptom relief, with no drugs available to halt disease progression. This has prompted interest in plant-based extracts as alternative therapies. This study examines the neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of walnut oil (WO), extracted from <i>Juglans regia</i> L., in an in vitro PD model using the neurotoxin rotenone (ROT). WO, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), together with minor bioactive components, is known for its neuroprotective properties. Using human HMC3 microglial and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, we tested WO’s effects on ROT-induced toxicity. The experiments were performed at different time points. The results showed that the co-administration of WO with ROT significantly improved cell viability and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, conditioned media from WO-treated HMC3 cells enhanced SH-SY5Y cell survival, indicating positive microglia–neuron interactions. Cell viability appeared to be concentration- and time-dependent. These findings highlight WO’s potential, mainly due to its PUFA content, as a promising candidate for preventing neurodegenerative diseases like PD; they underscore the potential of WO content in food for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.
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spelling doaj-art-dcb1073901d849ff9ce94fb0794c91182024-12-13T16:28:49ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012923571810.3390/molecules29235718Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s DiseaseMonica Filaferro0Rossella Avallone1Cecilia Rustichelli2Giovanni Vitale3Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, ItalyParkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder marked by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the buildup of α-synuclein aggregates. The current treatments focus on symptom relief, with no drugs available to halt disease progression. This has prompted interest in plant-based extracts as alternative therapies. This study examines the neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of walnut oil (WO), extracted from <i>Juglans regia</i> L., in an in vitro PD model using the neurotoxin rotenone (ROT). WO, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA), together with minor bioactive components, is known for its neuroprotective properties. Using human HMC3 microglial and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, we tested WO’s effects on ROT-induced toxicity. The experiments were performed at different time points. The results showed that the co-administration of WO with ROT significantly improved cell viability and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, conditioned media from WO-treated HMC3 cells enhanced SH-SY5Y cell survival, indicating positive microglia–neuron interactions. Cell viability appeared to be concentration- and time-dependent. These findings highlight WO’s potential, mainly due to its PUFA content, as a promising candidate for preventing neurodegenerative diseases like PD; they underscore the potential of WO content in food for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5718walnut oilomega 3 fatty acidsin vitro Parkinson’s modelsHMC3 and SH-SY5Y cellular lines
spellingShingle Monica Filaferro
Rossella Avallone
Cecilia Rustichelli
Giovanni Vitale
Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Molecules
walnut oil
omega 3 fatty acids
in vitro Parkinson’s models
HMC3 and SH-SY5Y cellular lines
title Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease
title_full Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease
title_fullStr Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease
title_short Characterization of Walnut Oil and Evaluation of Its Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Parkinson’s Disease
title_sort characterization of walnut oil and evaluation of its neuroprotective effects in an in vitro model of parkinson s disease
topic walnut oil
omega 3 fatty acids
in vitro Parkinson’s models
HMC3 and SH-SY5Y cellular lines
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5718
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AT ceciliarustichelli characterizationofwalnutoilandevaluationofitsneuroprotectiveeffectsinaninvitromodelofparkinsonsdisease
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