Aims Aequorin as a bioluminescence protein due to ease of use, non-toxic, and high capability of detecting has long been the interest of researchers. The aim of this study was to design a method for accurate and simple detection of important therapeutic agents using a bioluminescence inhibition based assay by using aequorin. Materials & Methods In this study, important drugs in therapeutic monitoring with structural similarity to Coelenterazine, were selected and their interaction with aequorin was investigated. Further, the conditions of the bioluminescence assay were optimized to achieve the lowest detection limit. Findings Among the drugs whose effects have been tested on aequorin, the only Benserazide resulted in inhibition of the bioluminescence activity. This analyte can significantly reduce the bioluminescence of aequorin in a concentration-dependent manner. The best dose-response curve was obtained and IC50 of 0. 26μ M was calculated. The linear calibration curve was obtained in a range of about 100 to 1500nM with LOD and LOQ of 79 and 260nM, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated the application of the approach in human serum samples with a recovery of 97%. Guddem-Schild graph was plotted to determine the mechanism of inhibition which indicated that the IC50 of Benserazide changed in the presence of different concentrations of Coelenterazine. Conclusion The proposed method can be used for measuring Benserazide which can easily be applicable for real samples. Also, the results show that Benserazide inhibits the bioluminescence activity of aequorin by competitive inhibition.

Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant and methyl donor effects of betaine in cerebellum following levodopa and Benserazide administration in rats.Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were treated with levodopa (LD), betaine (Bet), levodopa plus betaine (LD/Bet), levodopa plus Benserazide (LD/Ben), levodopa plus betaineBenserazide (LD/Bet-Ben), and the controls with vehicle for 10 consecutive days, orally.Results: Treatment of rats with LD and Benserazide significantly increased total homocysteine in plasma of the LD/Ben group when compared to the other groups. Lipid peroxidation of cerebellum increased significantly in LD‐treated rats when compared to the other groups. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione content in cerebellum were significantly higher in the betainetreated rats when compared to the LD and LD/Ben groups. Serum dopamine concentration increased significantly in LD‐treated rats in comparison with the LD/Ben group. LD/Bet-treated rats also demonstrated significantly higher dopamine levels when compared to the LD/Ben group.Conclusion: We observed valuable effects of Bet in combination with LD and Benserazide, which routinely were used for Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment, in experimentally-induced oxidative stress and hyperhomocysteinemia in rats. Therefore, it seems that Bet is a vital and promising agent regarding PD for future clinical trials in humans.

Introduction: Betaine has been demonstrated to have methyl donor and antioxidant properties in our previous reports. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine plasma homocysteine concentration and evaluate antioxidant activity of betaine following levodopa and Benserazide administration, which routinely are used in treatment of Parkinson’s disease in liver of rats.Methods: Sprague–Dawley male rats were treated by levodopa (LD), Betaine (Bet.), levodopa plus betaine (LD/Bet.), levodopa plus Benserazide (LD/Ben.), levodopa plus betaine-Benserazide (LD/Bet.-Ben.) and distilled water to controls for 10 consecutive days, orally. Plasma homocysteine concentration was measured by ELISA method. Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation amount were measured via chemical methods. Serumic dopamine concentration was also determined by HPLC method and data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA test.Results: The study results indicated that the treatment of rats with levodopa and Benserazide significantly increased total homocysteine (tHcy) in plasma of the LD/Ben. group in comparison with the other groups (p<0.05). tHcy concentration was also significantly higher in LD group in comparison with control, betaine and LD/Bet. groups. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) amount of liver increased significantly in LD/Ben. group when compared to the control group which this index decreased by betaine treatment. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in liver were significantly higher in the LD-treated rats as compared to the LD/Ben. group. Serumic dopamine concentration decreased significantly in LD/Ben.-treated rats in comparison with LD and LD/Bet. groups.Conclusion: Taken together, it seems that betaine acts as an antioxidant agent regarding decrease of LD/Ben.-induced oxidative stress and is able to decrease their oxidative effects in liver of rats.

A modified electrochemical sensor based on carbon paste electrode modified with CoFe2O4 nanoparticle and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate was fabricated for Benserazide determination. In the first step, CoFe2O4 nanoparticle were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized by TEM method. In continuous and at optimum condition, the prepared sensor showed dynamic range between 0. 1-350. 0 μ M with detection limit 0. 05μ M for determination of Benserazide. The diffusion coefficient was determined by chronoamperometric method. The proposed sensor showed good selectivity for determination of Benserazide in the presence of usual interferences. Finally, the modified sensor was used for determination of Benserazide in pharmaceutical and biological samples and showed the high ability for analysis of this drug in real samples.

Benserazide (BZ), a dopadecarboxylase inhibitor, is the most widely prescribed drug in treatment of Parkinson’ s disease. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a sensitive and selective BZ sensor. We used tin oxide nanocomposite (Cu@SnS/SnO2) for developing a new electrochemical sensor for determination of BZ in human urine and pharmaceutical tablets. Morphology of the synthesized Cu@SnS/SnO2 was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The modified electrode was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and voltammetric techniques. The sensitivity and limit of detection of RGO/Cu@SnS/SnO2 electrode for BZ are 0. 275 μ Aμ M− 1 in the range of 1-100 μ M and 0. 58 μ M. Moreover, the proposed electrode shows good selectivity, reproducibility and stability. The applicability of the modified electrode was demonstrated by determination of BZ in human urine and pharmaceutical formulation.

Background: Parkinson’ s disease is a common and progressive neuropathology disorder caused by the neuronal degradation of the dopaminergic system of the substantia nigra. We investigated the increase of levodopa in the brain to protect neurons. Methods: Twenty eight maleWistar rats (weighing200-250 grams) were randomly divided into four groups (n=7 each). The control group received only saline. The second group used MPTP toxin to create Parkinson’ s disease. The third group received levodopa 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally and the fourth group received levodopa 10 mg/kg plus Benserazide 2. 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally for two weeks. All rats were decapitated after four weeks and their brains were prepared for the TUNNEL and immunohistochemical studies. Results: Immunohistochemistry results showed that the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in the substantia nigra (SNpc) region was significantly higher in the combined treatment group than in the other groups, and the number of TUNNEL positive cells in this group was lower than in the other treatment groups. Conclusions: The results show there is a positive correlation between behavioral improvements and TH positive cells. Therefore, it is possible that the increase of levodopa in the brain leads to behavioral improvement. Increasing amount of levodopa in the brain reduces the number of apoptotic cells. Therefore, there is a direct correlation between the level of brain levodopa and cell death. Thus, we suggest that the increase in dopamine in the brain following the use of Benserazide can support the dopaminergic neurons of the SNpc.

Sixteen electrochemical electrodes were prepared by modifying the electro-polymerized 3-methylthiophene to the below and above of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) dispersion that dripped onto glassy carbon electrode. Determination of Benserazide (BS) and levodopa (LD) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) was performed by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique to find out which of these electrodes gave the best and fastest simultaneous response. The highest resolution and current densities were achieved with the electrode that 20 μ L 1. 0% SWCNT was dribbled onto the bare electrode. The morphology and structure of modified electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Under optimum conditions AA, BS and LD gave sensitive oxidation peaks at nearly 90, 210 and 320 mV, respectively. The oxidation currents increased linearly with concentration of BS (50-100 μ M) and LD (5. 0– 9. 5 μ M) in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7. 0). The detection limits obtained by DPV were 3. 0 μ M for BS and 1. 1 μ M for LD. Additionally, the proposed modified sensor was applied successfully to biological fluids and tablet samples. The results proved that the modified sensor showed excellent selectivity, repeatability and reproducibility with high stability and accuracy.

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological disorder caused by the pathological destruction of dopaminergic neurons. Although it is commonly associated with motor symptoms, most patients also experience a range of non-motor symptoms, including mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and memory loss. In this study, we investigated the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on improving PD and reducing the side effects of levodopa. Methods: Forty-nine male rats were randomly divided into seven groups. A PD model was induced by unilateral injection of 6-OHDA. A combination therapy involving three doses of CAPE (10, 20, and 40 μmol/kg) was administered, along with levodopa and Benserazide. The animals were assessed during the study using various behavioral tests, such as tail suspension swing, apomorphine-induced rotation, elevated plus-maze, and open f ield. Additionally, histological tests, including Nissl staining and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry, were performed to evaluate the animals further. Results: Our research demonstrates that CAPE effectively reduces side effects associated with levodopa. Moreover, at higher doses, CAPE significantly improves non-motor symptoms, including anxiety and depression, in addition to enhancing motor function. Histological analysis also suggests a protective effect of CAPE on dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that co-administration of CAPE can help prevent L-DOPA-induced anxiety-like behaviors through its neuroprotective properties. Therefore, CAPE may have the potential as an adjunct therapy for the management of PD.

BACKGROUND: Betaine has been shown to be antioxidant and methyl donor effects in our recent studies.OBJECTIVES: In the present study, the antioxidant and methyl donor properties of betaine in levodopa/Benserazide-mediated hyperhomocysteinemia and levodopa-induced oxidative stress in rat's kidney were examined.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into levodopa (LD), Betaine (Bet.), levodopa plus betaine (LD/Bet.), levodopa plus Benserazide (LD/Ben.), levodopa plus betaine-Benserazide (LD/Bet.-Ben.), and control groups. The experimental groups received LD (3×100 mg/kg), Bet. (1.5% w/w of the total diet), Ben. (3×25 mg/kg), and distilled water was given to controls for 10 consecutive days, orally by gavage.RESULTS: Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration decreased significantly in Bet.-, LD/Bet.-, and LD/Bet.-Ben.-treated rats compared to LD/Ben. group. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration (as a lipid peroxidation marker) in renal tissue reduced statistically in betaine group in comparison with LD and LD/Ben. groups. Renal catalase activity increased significantly in LD-treated rats when compared to controls. Renal superoxide dismutase activity significantly decreased in LD-treated group when compared to LD/Ben. group. However, there was not any significant difference in renal glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity among the groups.CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that LD and LD/Ben. have side effects in kidney due to induction of hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress. In contrast, betaine acts as a promising antioxidant and methyl donor agent versus LD-induced complications.