Ameliorative role of naringenin in MPTP- induced Parkinsonism: Insights from Drosophila melanogaster experimental model combined with computational biology.

This study probed the ameliorative effects of naringenin in a D. melanogaster model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism, incorporating computational analysis. Initially, flies were treated with naringenin (100-500 µM) and MPTP (250-750 µM) for 14 days in two separate studies to determine the optimum concentrations for the treatments. Following this, optimum naringenin concentrations (100 and 300 µM) were administered to MPTP (500 µM)-exposed flies in a 4-day study. Motor function, survival rate, and neurotoxicity biomarkers were assessed alongside biological network analysis and molecular docking simulation. Results indicate that naringenin exhibits hormetic behavior, with 100-300 µM providing optimal neuroprotection. The treatments significantly improved negative geotaxis and acetylcholinesterase activity, and reduced MPTP-induced oxidative stress as indicated by reduced nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and protein carbonyl levels. Furthermore, naringenin restored thiol contents, and enhanced catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activities. Network analysis helped to identify key targets, including DRD4, DRD2, NFKB1, MAOB, MAPK14, and CYP2A6, which function in dopaminergic signaling and oxido-inflammatory pathways. Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding interactions of naringenin with DRD2, MAO, MAPK, and NF-κB protein targets, primarily through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Overall, these findings suggest that naringenin mitigates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity by enhancing dopaminergic neurotransmission and suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation. This study further supports the neuroprotective potential of naringenin and could be suggested as a promising nutraceutical/drug candidate for Parkinson's disease.