Potential of Antibiotics for the Treatment and Management of Parkinson's Disease: An Overview

Evidence has emerged over the last 2 decades to ascertain the proof of concepts viz. mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation-derived oxidative damage and cytokine-induced toxicity that play a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD). The available pharmacotherapies for PD are mainly symptomatic and typically indicate L-DOPA to restrain dopamine deficiency and its consequences. In the 21st century, the role of antibiotics has emerged at the forefront of medicines in health and human illness. There are several experimental and pre-clinical evidences that support the potential use of antibiotics as a neuroprotective agent. The astonishing effects of antibiotics and their neuroprotective properties against neurodegeneration and neuro-inflammation would be phenomenal for the development of effective therapy against PD. Antibiotics are also testified as useful in not only preventing the formation of alpha-synuclein but also acting on mitochondrial dysfunction and neuro-inflammation. Thus, the possible therapy with antibiotics in PD would impact both pathways leading to neuronal cell death in substantia nigra and pars compacta in the midbrain. Moreover, the antibiotic-based pharmacotherapy will open a scientific research avenue to add more to the evidence-based and rational use of antibiotics for the treatment and management of PD and other neurodegenerative disorders.