Chitosan functionalized selenium nanoconjugates of Mucuna pruriens as a nanotherapeutic approach for Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Nature’s mother holds many untapped treasures of phytoconstituents that can cure and exhibit unexpected therapeutic activity against several diseases. Seeds of velvet beans, popularly known as Mucuna pruriens (MP), are the richest source of Levodopa (L-DOPA). L-DOPA is the precursor for dopamine, a key neurotransmitter deficient in the brain of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD). The peripheral degradation of L-DOPA before crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the greatest challenge in the treatment of PD patients. Several preclinical and clinical studies reported the excellent efficacy of MP seed extracts. To deliver the key constituents of MP seed extracts, the research work designed a nanocomposite containing a trace element (selenium), a natural polysaccharide polymer (chitosan), and MP seed extract. The efficacy of the Chitosan@selenium Mucuna pruriens NPs (CSMNPs) was evaluated at two dose levels (25 and 50 mg•kg − 1 ) in the reserpine-induced PD rat model, compared with MP extract and selenium NPs of Mucuna pruriens (MSNPs). The surface-modified polymeric metal NPs showcased improved motor function, grip strength, and antioxidant levels in the reserpine-induced PD rat model, significantly. In comparison to MP extract and MSNPs, the CSMNPs showed better antiparkinsonian and antioxidant properties, which may be attributed to their smaller size and better permeability through the BBB. Histopathological assessment of the hippocampus and the substantia nigra of the brain also supported the results of CSMNPs.