Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting the substantia nigra where functions controlling body movement take place. Manganese (Mn) overexposure is linked to a neurologic syndrome resembling PD. Sesamol, thymol, wheat grass (WG), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic nutraceuticals. We investigated the potential protective effects of these nutraceuticals alone or in combinations against MnCl₂-induced PD in rats. Seven groups of adult male Sprague Dawley rats were categorized as follows: group (I) was the control, while groups 2–7 received MnCl₂ either alone (Group II) or in conjunction with oral doses of sesamol (Group III), thymol (Group IV), CoQ10 (Group V), WG (Group VI), or their combination (Group VII). All rats were subjected to four behavioral tests (open-field, swimming, Y-maze, and catalepsy tests). Biochemical changes in brain levels of monoamines, ACHE, BDNF, GSK-3β, GABA/glutamate, as well as oxidative stress, and apoptotic and neuroinflammatory biomarkers were evaluated, together with histopathological examinations of different brain regions. Mn increased catalepsy scores, while decreasing neuromuscular co-ordination, and locomotor and exploratory activity. It also impaired vigilance, spatial memory, and decision making. Most behavioral impairments induced by Mn were improved by sesamol, thymol, WG, or CoQ10, with prominent effect by sesamol and thymol. Notably, the combination group showed more pronounced improvements, which were confirmed by biochemical, molecular, as well as histopathological findings. Sesamol or thymol showed better protection against neuronal degeneration and some behavioral impairments induced by Mn than WG or CoQ10, partly via interplay between Nrf2/HO-1, TLR4/NLRP3/NF-κB, GSK-3β and Bax/Bcl2 pathways.

Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a sodium salt of l-glutamic acid, is used in many different types of cuisine to improve flavor and palatability. Food containing MSG was associated with excitotoxicity which induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation; the most common mechanism that linked with neurological disorders. Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children most frequently around the globe. Sesamol (SML) is one of the promising bioactive flavonoids with multiple pharmacological activities. Objective: we aim to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of sesamol against MSG by modulating the GSK3-/Nrf2/NF-k/Bcl-2 pathways. Materials and Methods: thirty-six male young rats (4-6 weeks old) were randomly distributed over three groups, (12/group). Control group (1): rats received 2% DMSO in saline. ADHD group (2): rats received 400mg/kg MSG daily by intra-gastric tube for 8 consecutive weeks. ADHD + SML group (3): rats treated like group 2, in addition to receiving SML (20mg/kg i.p.) in concurrent with MSG. behavioral tests (y-maze and open field test) were conducted over the final four days of the 8-week trial and after the experiment's conclusion rats were sacrificed and Biochemical parameters were measured in brain tissue (assessment of brain monoamines, GSK3-β, Nrf2, SOD, inflammatory, and apoptotic biomarkers by ELISA technique along with colorimetric assay of Calcium, MDA, SOD and TAC level). Conclusion: According to our results, SML may be able to protect the brain from neurological disorders resembling ADHD by targeting the GSK3-β/Nrf2/NF-kβ/Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathways.