up-regulates, differentiates and protects dopaminergic neurons,
dendrities and synapses, especially in the substantia nigra of the
midbrain and in the hippocampus [1">[2">[6">[7">
- increases dopamine synthesis 9-Me-BC
-
increases neurotrophins/neurotrophic factors (NGF, BDNF, CDNF [6">,
GDNF, SHH [5">) and decrease apoptic signals [6"> (like caspase-3)
[2">
- decreases inflammation, preventing microglia
proliferation and chemokine release [4">, protecting against
lipopolysaccharide toxicity [5"> and reducing LDH [2">[6">
(lactate dehydrogenase) [7"> reduces α-synuclein [4">[5">, the
aggregation of which form insoluble fibrils (like lewy bodies), one of
the causes of some neurodegenerative disorders, like PD and AD
(alzheimer's disease)
- increase TH [6"> (tyrosine
hydroxylase) expression and its transcription factors, and interacts
with tyrosine kinases [4">[5">[7">. TH converts L-tyrosine to
L-Dopa, needed for the synthesis of the catecholamines, especially
dopamine
- MAO-B inhibition [3">, preventing the formation of
neurotoxic substances, like DOPAC (from the dopamine metabolization),
6-OH-DA (oxydopamine), and MPDP⁺/MPP⁺ (from MPTP), the major cause of
dopaminergic neurons death
- increases/protects/recovers the NADH
dehydrogenase (or "complex I" [6"> which catalyzes the transfer of
electrons between NADH and Co-Q10), enhancing the mithocondrial
respiration chain [7">
