Tissue distribution and neuroprotective effects of citrus flavonoid tangeretin in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
Neuroreport. 2001 December 4;12(17):3871-5
The neuroprotective effect of the phytochemical tangeretin was tested on rats with chemically induced lesions (to simulate Parkinson's disease). First the bioavailability of tangeretin was tested. The researchers founds that the oral administration of tangeretin resulted in significant levels of tangeretin in the brain (hypothalamus, striatum and hippocampus). Treatment of the rats with the dopaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine resulted in reduced levels of dopamine, an effect which was reversed by the administration of tangeretin. This study concluded that tangeretin can cross the blood-brain barrier and has a potential use as a neuroprotective agent.
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