INVESTIGATING MEDICINAL PLANTS AS THERAPEUTIC AGENTS FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE: QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS AND TARGET MOLECULE IDENTIFICATION

Abstract

The gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra area of the brain is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative condition. The investigation of alternative therapy alternatives is necessary since the therapeutic choices for PD that are now available have limits in terms of efficacy and side effects. Traditional medicine has used medicinal plants to treat a wide range of problems, and there is growing interest in using them as potential innovative therapeutic agents for PD. According to the study's methodology, a qualitative analysis of the selected medicinal plant varieties was carried out with an emphasis on their phytochemical composition and bioactive components. Additionally, the study employed in-silico techniques to identify potential target substances in extracts from plants that could be helpful as PD treatments. Computing tools have been utilised to predict the connection between the targeted phytochemicals and certain biochemical targets connected to the diagnosis of PD. The analysis of the binding affinities and interaction patterns between the phytochemicals and the target molecules has shown the importance of molecular docking. These interactions shed important light on the potential therapeutic applications of the recently discovered phytochemicals as well as their propensity to alter key PD-related pathways. The In silico research sheds light on the possible molecular targets and mechanisms of action of the discovered phytochemicals, while the qualitative examination offers a thorough profile of the phytochemical composition of the chosen plants. In order to validate the therapeutic efficacy of medicinal plants and their phytochemical elements in the cure of PD, the findings of this study could open opportunities for further experimental and eventually, clinical trials. This study will examine the possibility of a number of medicinal plants, including Petunia hybrida, Plectranthus scutellatioides, Alcea rosea, Dahlia pinnata, and Chrysanthemum morifolium, in an effort to discover novel therapies for PD.