title: Beneficial antioxidant properties of betaine against oxidative stress mediated by levodopa/benserazide in the brain of rats.
abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate antioxidant effects of betaine in the brain following administration of levodopa and benserazide, which are routinely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. 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 300 mg/kg, Bet. 1.5 % w/w of the total diet, Ben. 75 mg/kg and distilled water to controls for 10 consecutive days, orally. The concentration of plasma total homocysteine significantly increased in LD/Ben.-treated rats when compared to the other groups. Brain glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and glutathione content both elevated with betaine treatment in LD/Bet. and LD/Bet.-Ben groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was also higher in controls and betaine-treated rats in comparison with LD and LD/Ben. groups. Likewise, catalase activity significantly increased in control and betaine groups when compared to LD- and LD/Ben.-treated rats. In contrast, brain lipid peroxidation significantly increased in response to LD and LD/Ben.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regarding metabolism of LD in peripheral tissues, serumic dopamine concentration significantly increased in LD-treated rats in comparison with LD/Ben. group. The present results show beneficial antioxidant and methyl donor properties of betaine versus oxidative stress and hyperhomocysteinemia induced by levodopa and benserazide in an animal model.
authors: Division of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, PO Box: 465, Khorram Abad, Iran, alirezaei_m54@yahoo.com.
authors: Masoud
authors: M
authors: Alirezaei
authors: Zeynab
authors: Z
authors: Khoshdel
authors: Omid
authors: O
authors: Dezfoulian
authors: Marzyeh
authors: M
authors: Rashidipour
authors: Vahideh
authors: V
authors: Taghadosi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001545:Benserazide / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C005177:benserazide, levodopa drug combination; D001622:Betaine; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D004298:Dopamine