Affiliations: [a] Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Israa University, Amman, Jordan
| [b] College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| [c] Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| [d] Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| [e] Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Karem Alzoubi, PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan. Tel.: +962 2 7201000/Ext.: 23521; Fax: +962 2 7201075; E-mail: khalzoubi@just.edu.jo.
Abstract: Background:Caffeine and taurine, which possess neuro-modulatory activity happen to be consumed together as part of the constituents of energy drinks, could have beneficial effects and prevent neuronal deterioration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective:This study aimed to investigate behavioral and neurochemical effects of these two agents in an animal model of PD at two time points to evaluate possible neuro-protective or neuro-modulatory effects. Methods:Stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in rat striatum was used to model PD-like behavior in animals. Motor behavior was assessed by a characteristic rotation behavior response to the apomorphine challenge and dopamine levels in the striatum were quantified using HPLC-ED. Results:A reduction in apomorphine induced rotations following administration of caffeine and/or taurine as compared to the untreated lesioned group (controls) was shown. Significant decreases in dopamine levels were also seen in the ipsilateral side of 6-OHDA group, this effect was not significantly reversed in caffeine and taurine treated groups. Treatments partially restored the content of DA levels in the lesioned striatum. Conclusions:Current results demonstrated beneficial effects for the combination of caffeine and taurine in PD animal model, suggesting that consumption of both agents could be a new added therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease prevention and treatment.
Keywords: Caffeine, taurine, 6-hydroxydopamine, rat, Parkinson’s disease
