Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Parkinson{u2019}s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Clinical features include motor (bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor) and non-motor (depression, sleep disturbances, memory deficits) symptoms. It is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) with subsequent reduction in striatal dopamine level. Current therapeutic strategies for PD focus mainly on reducing the severity of its symptoms using dopaminergic medications, while the progressive loss of neurons cannot be stopped or reverted by these medications. Manganese (Mn) is required for many essential biological processes as well as in the development and functioning of the brain. Excessive accumulation of Mn in the brain may cause serious central nervous system dysfunction known as manganism, a motor disorder associated with cognitive and neuropsychiatric deficits similar to parkinsonism. Vinpocetine a synthetic derivative of the alkaloid vincamine, is used to improve the cognitive function in cerebrovascular diseases. It possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The cognitive improvement properties and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of vinpocetine, make it a potential candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, such as PD and Alzheimer{u2019}s disease

Issued also as CD