Protective effect of Geraniol on the transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease

• Geraniol results in a significant delay in the loss of climbing ability, improved activity pattern and reduced the oxidative stress.
• Geraniol is potent in reducing the PD symptoms in transgenic Drosophila model of PD.
• Geraniol does not inhibit the expression of alpha synuclein in the PD model flies.

The role of Geraniol was studied on the transgenic Drosophila model flies expressing normal human alpha synuclein (h-αS) in the neurons. Geraniol at final concentration of 10, 20 and 40 μM were mixed in the diet and the flies were allowed to feed on it for 24 days. The effect of geraniol was studied on the climbing ability, activity pattern, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, glutathione, dopamine content, and glutathione-S-transferase activity in the brains of transgenic Drosophila. The exposure of PD model flies to 10, 20 and 40 μM of geraniol results in a significant delay in the loss of climbing ability (p < 0.05), improved activity pattern reduced the oxidative stress (p < 0.05) in the brains of transgenic Drosophila as compared to unexposed PD model flies. The results suggest that geraniol is potent in reducing the PD symptoms in transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease.

Possible mechanism of protection by Geraniol in Parkinson’s disease model transgenic flies.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide