Neuroprotective Efficacy of Dunaliella salina Against Paraquat- Induced Neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster.

Microalgae of Dunaliella salina possesses multiple biological properties which are mainly attributed to the active compounds such as polyphenol, chlorophyll and β-carotene. However, the utilization of D. salina as a neuroprotective agent in the management of Parkinson's disease is still questionable. Presently, we observed the potential neuromodulatory effects of D. salina extract against the toxicity exposed to paraquat in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). Male wild-type fruit flies were concomitantly induced by paraquat (3.5mM) and methanolic extract of D. salina (200μg/mL) in their diet during 4 days of observation. Paraquat-fed fruit flies exhibited a higher incidence mortality and severe influence on locomotor phenotypes (i.e. negative geotaxis) compared to the control. D. salina extract treatment that showed protection ability against these deleterious effects of paraquat. However, paraquat exposure caused a marked increase in malondialdehide (MDA) levels as indicating increase lipid peroxidation process in brains of fruit flies. Meanwhile, paraquat toxicity was also related to a significant decrease on dopamine levels in head of fruit flies, which were attenuated by D. salina extract treatment. Results revealed that D. salina extract significantly reduced the toxicity of paraquat compounds exposed to fruit flies and proved the usefulness of this model as a potential therapeutic strategy for symptoms that appear in Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]