Therapeutic potential of Canna edulis RS3-resistant starch in alleviating neuroinflammation and apoptosis in a Parkinson's disease rat model

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Miao medicinal <i>Canna edulis</i> RS3-resistant starch on behavioral performance and substantia nigra neuron apoptosis-related indicators in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Among the experimental groups, except for the control group, we induced PD rat models by subcutaneous injection of rotenone in the neck and back. After model induction, a 28-day drug intervention was conducted. Various techniques have been employed, including behavioral analysis, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated UTP nick-ends. labeling (TUNEL) and Nissl staining to investigate the effect of <i>Canna edulis</i> RS3-resistant starch on the substantia nigra and neuronal apoptosis-related markers in the brains of PD model rats. Our study revealed that <i>Canna edulis</i> RS3, a resistant starch, significantly reduced the climbing time of PD model rats, prolonged their hanging time, lowered the expression levels of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, increased the number of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra, and decreased the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Furthermore, <i>Canna edulis</i> RS3 elevated the protein expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Bcl-2 while reducing those of Bax, TLR4, NLRP3,and p-P65, and mitigated apoptosis and morphological changes in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region. Our results suggest that <i>Canna edulis</i> RS3-resistant starch may offer therapeutic benefits for PD patients with PD by potentially influencing inflammation and apoptosis in the dopaminergic system.