Neuroprotective effect of Yerba Mate (ilex paraguariensis) intake on dopaminergic neurons in a mice model of Parkinson's disease.

GOMEZ G.; TRIBBIA LT.; CURA AC.; RIVERO RC.; BERNARDI MA.; FERRARIO JE.; BALDI CORONEL B.; GERSHANIK OS.; GATTO EM.; TARAVINI IRE.

Chicago, Illinois

Congreso; Neuroscience 2019, Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience; 2019

Society for Neuroscience

A key feature of Parkinson?s disease (PD) is the progressive loss of midbraindopaminergic neurons and their axons projecting mainly to the striatum. Themechanisms underlying this neuronal degeneration have not been fullycharacterized and there is no current preventive therapy for PD. However, aninverse association was found between coffee intake or smoking and theoccurrence of PD. The infusion from the plant Ilex paraguariensis (popularlyknown as Yerba mate, YM) produces a very popular South American andMediterranean beverage called ?mate?. This infusion contains several bioactivephenolic compounds, which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. A casecontrolstudy revealed that consumption of mate also has an inverseassociation with the risk of developing PD. Furthermore, we have recentlyshown that YM favors survival and growth of dopaminergic neurons in culture.In the present study, we investigated the possible neuroprotective effect of YMintake on dopaminergic neurons in the mice model of PD induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injection. As YM infusion is not commonly madeas an herb tea, we used an extraction method called ?cebada simulada? thatresembles the way it is usually consumed. We quantified the main bioactivecompounds (caffeine, theobromine, chlorogenic acid and rutin) by HPLC. Micereceived water (control) or ?mate? as their only source of fluid, and differentperiods of YM administration and concentrations were evaluated. The infusionwas well accepted by the animals, showing no difference in the total volumeconsumed compared with water. Locomotor activity was evaluated in openfield sessions and we observed that mice that drank mate had ahyperlocomotor behavior. To induce a partial degeneration of dopaminergicneurons as an early PD model, 6-OHDA was injected unilaterally into thestriatum using different coordinates, volumes and concentrations. Aftersacrifice, Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was performed toevaluate the degree of dopaminergic denervation. We developed a protocol ofdenervation which induced a lesion level between 30-60 percent. Ourhistological data showed that YM intake increases the TH immunoreactiveremaining fibers compared to control mice, suggesting a neuroprotectiveeffect against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity.