Neuroprotective Effects of Long-Term Ketogenic Diet and Flavoquonine in Animal Models of Early Parkinson Disease

R. Poovizhiselvi, Dr. K. Karthikeyan

Abstract: Parkinson's disease casts a long shadow over millions of lives, slowly stealing movement, balance, and independence as vital dopamine-producing neurons in the brain's substantia nigra begin to fade away. The ketogenic diet is a dietary regimen that is low in carbohydrates and high in fat traditionally used in metabolic disorders and refractory pediatric epilepsy, has recently garnered interest for its potential neuroprotective effects in PD. However, its efficacy in PD models remains under debate. In this evaluation, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the ketogenic diet and flavonoid-based phytocompounds in MPTP-induced PD in BALB/c mice. Following MPTP administration, animals were divided into six groups, including a control and five experimental groups receiving different dietary or pharmacological interventions. Behavioral assessments, biochemical parameters, histopathological evaluations, and molecular analyses were conducted to determine treatment efficacy. Our findings revealed that both the ketogenic diet and flavonoid treatments significantly improved behavioral performance and reduced oxidative stress compared to the MPTP control. Histopathological analysis showed improved neuronal preservation in the substantia nigra of treated animals, while immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses verified that ?-synuclein aggregation was decreased and enhanced expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Statistical analysis, including the Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, confirmed that the data followed a normal distribution. Altogether, the findings highlight the neuroprotective potential of both the ketogenic diet and plant-derived compounds, reinforcing their promise as early therapeutic allies in the fight against Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease, Ketogenic Diet (KD), MPTP, Phyto compound, Parkinson's disease symptoms

How to Cite?: R. Poovizhiselvi, Dr. K. Karthikeyan, "Neuroprotective Effects of Long-Term Ketogenic Diet and Flavoquonine in Animal Models of Early Parkinson Disease", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1488-1497, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251120182925, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251120182925