Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) rescues motor, olfactory, mitochondrial and synaptic impairment in PINK1B9 Drosophila melanogaster genetic model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Roberto Marotta
Anna Liscia
Simone Poddighe
Roberta Ruffilli
Francesco Marrosu
Maria Dolores Setzu
Pietro Paolo Secci
Maria Cristina Mostallino
Ignazio Collu
Sanjay Kasture
Maria Antonietta Zuncheddu
Francescaelena De Rose
Elio Acquas
Paolo Solla
Maura Fanti
Journal: PloS one (2014)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: fruit fly; Drosophila melanogaster; PINK1B9; Parkinson's disease; Mucuna pruriens
Affiliations: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy., Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy., Electron Microscopy Lab, Nanochemistry Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy., Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Cagliari, Italy., Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy., Sanjivani College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India., Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Center of Excellence for the Study of Neurobiology of Addiction, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience - INN, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Abstract:  The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) mutant for PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1B9) gene is a powerful tool to investigate physiopathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Using PINK1B9 mutant Dm we sought to explore the effects of Mucuna pruriens methanolic extract (Mpe), a L-Dopa-containing herbal remedy of PD. The effects of Mpe on PINK1B9 mutants, supplied with standard diet to larvae and adults, were assayed on 3-6 (I), 10-15 (II) and 20-25 (III) days old flies. Mpe 0.1% significantly extended lifespan of PINK1B9 and fully rescued olfactory response to 1-hexanol and improved climbing behavior of PINK1B9 of all ages; in contrast, L-Dopa (0.01%, percentage at which it is present in Mpe 0.1%) ameliorated climbing of only PINK1B9 flies of age step II. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of antennal lobes and thoracic ganglia of PINK1B9 revealed that Mpe restored to wild type (WT) levels both T-bars and damaged mitochondria. Western blot analysis of whole brain showed that Mpe, but not L-Dopa on its own, restored bruchpilot (BRP) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression to age-matched WT control levels. These results highlight multiple sites of action of Mpe, suggesting that its effects cannot only depend upon its L-Dopa content and support the clinical observation of Mpe as an effective medication with intrinsic ability of delaying the onset of chronic L-Dopa-induced long-term motor complications. Overall, this study strengthens the relevance of using PINK1B9 Dm as a translational model to study the properties of Mucuna pruriens for PD treatment. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Questions for authors: Contrast enhanced Fig. 6A shows apparently spliced blots. Can you examine to determine if these are compression artifacts or confirm that the figure was assembled from separate blot images. Below: top image is contrast enhanced version over unenhanced original; below that is inverted image with additional contrast enhancement. *** ![file] *** ![file] , 
 #1 I m 100% sure these are NOT compression effects. , 
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 2020 Expression of Concern. https: journals.plos.org plosone article?id=10.1371 journal.pone.0231371 Following the publication of this article [1], concerns were raised about the reporting of the western blot data presented in Fig 6A. The bands presented in Fig 6A appear to have been spliced from the underlying gel and arranged into Fig 6A as presented in the published article. The preparation and presentation of the bands raises concerns regarding the reliability of the data presented in the published figure. The authors have informed the journal that the uncropped blots for Fig 6A are no longer available. The authors have indicated that the original data underlying other results from this study are also not available. In light of this, the article is not in compliance with the journalu2019s Data Availability policy in place at the time of the articleu2019s publication. The PLOS ONE Editors issue this Expression of Concern to notify readers of the unresolved concerns pertaining to the reliability of the data presented in Fig 6A and the unavailability of underlying data to support the results presented in the article. Reference 1.Poddighe S, De Rose F, Marotta R, Ruffilli R, Fanti M, Secci PP, et al. (2014) Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean) Rescues Motor, Olfactory, Mitochondrial and Synaptic Impairment in PINK1B9 Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Model of Parkinsonu2019s Disease. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110802. https: doi.org 10.1371 journal.pone.0110802 , 
 #4 Appreciate the prompt action by the journal. ,