About This Project

Aggregation of the synuclein-alpha, SNCA, protein can indicate Parkinson's Disease, PD, symptoms two years prior to diagnosis. Levadopa is a component in synthetic medicines for PD found naturally in plants. I hypothesize that if C. elegans are used as a model, natural levodopa-based medicines could decrease the aggregation of the SNCA protein and the intensity of PD symptoms because of the inversely related correlation between SNCA aggregation and dopamine production.

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What is the context of this research?

This research explores that if C.elegans are used as a model, natural medicines containing levodopa may decrease the aggregation of the SNCA protein and the intensity of PD symptoms. The initial inspiration for this research stemmed from having a family member get diagnosed with PD. After reading articles detailing a series of tests that analyzed the cognitive abilities of PD patients on and off medication, and discovering that patients off their medication had a higher ability to grasp new information and observations, the question came to life. The core of this experiment is to stray away from synthetic PD medication and promote natural levodopa based medication.

What is the significance of this project?

The significance of this research project is to observe the role natural PD medicines may be able to play in reducing the negative side effects of synthetic medication. It also targets the (synuclein alpha) SNCA protein, which isn't often observed when developing PD medication. With these two points of focus, results could provide insight on important focal points and components of PD medicine that have minimally been looked at prior. If more natural PD medications are created around the monitoring of SNCA levels, then there may be more supplemental options that could cater patients’ specific cognitive impairment.

What are the goals of the project?

We hypothesize C. elegans treated with levodopa will show a significant decrease in aggregation of SNCA protein when compared to untreated C. elegans. To test this we will use a C. elegans model and measure changes in the SNCA protein aggregation, in response to various plant extracts. The plant extract samples that will be tested are Mucuna Pruriens, Vicia faba, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna vexillata, Prosopis chilensis and Parkinsonia aculeata. To make these observations we require a microscope filter with the light microscope to visualize a fluorescent tag for SNCA on the model organism.