New Delhi, Jan 2
Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have showed that nano-formulation of melatonin -- the hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness -- could provide therapeutic solution for Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurological disorders caused by the death of dopamine-secreting neurons in the brain due to aggregation of synuclein protein inside it.
Available medications can only minimise the symptoms but cannot cure the disease and this underlines the need to develop better therapeutic solutions for the disease.
Previous studies have shown the implications of Parkinson’s related genes in governing a quality control mechanism called "Mitophagy". This mechanism identifies and removes dysfunctional mitochondria as well as cuts down oxidative stress.
It has shown that melatonin, used to treat insomnia, could be a potential inducer of mitophagy to mitigate Parkinson’s.
To decode the molecular mechanism behind melatonin-mediated oxidative stress regulation, the team from INST Mohali used human serum albumin nano-formulation and delivered the drug to the brain.