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The Effects of Ursodeoxycholic Acid on Parkinson’S Disease, a Mechanistic Review of the Recent Evidence Publisher Pubmed



Razavi SM1, 2 ; Esmaealzadeh N3 ; Ataei M1, 2 ; Afshari N1, 2 ; Saleh M1, 2 ; Amini Y1, 2 ; Hasrati S1, 2 ; Ghazizadeh Hashemi F4 ; Mortazavi A5 ; Mohaghegh Shalmani L1, 2, 6 ; Abdolghaffari AH1, 2, 6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. GI Pharmacology Interest Group (GPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Psychosomatic Research Center, Imam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Toxicology & Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box: 19419-33111, No. 99, Yakhchal, Gholhak, Shariati St., Tehran, Iran

Source: Metabolic Brain Disease Published:2025


Abstract

Introduction. Parkinson`s disease stands as the second-most widespread neurodegenerative disorder. Parkinson`s disease is relentless in progression and irreversible in nature, for which there is no cure. Therapies are only used to attenuate motor symptoms. As Parkinson`s disease is primarily defined by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, and considering that neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in these neurons are key factors contributing to disease progression, alternative therapies should aim to preserve healthy mitochondria. Method. Eligible studies on the effect of Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on Parkinson`s disease were collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane library for clinical, in-vivo, and in-vitro studies. Result. UDCA and its taurine conjugate (TUDCA), which are endogenous bile acids, have exhibited neuroprotective potential in various neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, in both animal experimental models and clinical investigations. This is attributed to three significant properties, in addition to their capability to cross the blood-brain barrier. First, their anti-inflammatory properties are manifested through the reduction of significant inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1β and other related elements. Second, their antioxidant property is marked by an increase in the expression of superoxide dismuthase, glutathione peroxidase and other antioxidant enzymes. The third property is the antiapoptotic activity, characterized by decreased caspase-3 activity and lower expression of pro-apoptotic Bax in the striatum. Conclusion. Based on this comprehensive review, UDCA and TUDCA have the potential to be considered as a therapeutic agent in the management of the Parkinson's disease. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.