Bruno FIGADÈRE

BioCIS, CNRS, University of Paris-Sud, Univ. Paris-Saclay, rue J.B. Clement, 92290 Châtenay-Malabry, FRANCE

Atypical Parkinsonism was reported in the early 2000’s in the French Indies and a possible link with Annonaceae consumption was postulated.  In a collaborative work and with other laboratories, we have now observed numerous evidences that annonaceous acetogenins, such as annonacin, are powerful neurotoxins, which are responsible for the death of dopaminergic neurons, as well as inducing taupathies.

However in light of the heavy consumption of Annonaceae substitutes worldwide without observing epidemic occurrence of Parkinson disease, it came to us that possible neuroprotective natural substances were also present in the plants of Annonaceae family. Starting from natural candidates possessing antioxidant properties, we designed and synthesised a large number of new chemical entities and tested them in primary cultures of Rat embryo mecencephaloms.

Our most recent results will be presented.