Levodopa-rich biomass of slime molds and puffballs and their melanins for treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the most common and severe neurodegenerative disorders. Levodopa (L-DOPA) taken along with a peripheral DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitor is commonly used as an effective anti-Parkinson’s agent. However, the medication causes some severe side effects e.g.
dyskinesias and is also a major financial burden for people with low incomes. Fava beans contain 10-50 mg% L-DOPA and consumption of these beans alone have been initially demonstrated to be more effective than the commercial L-DOPA with a much lower risk of dyskinesias.

Currently, there is no drug available for AD. Microbial melanins have been reported to protect cells from neurotoxins and oxidative stress. A previous study found that oral administration of melanin helps with the
recovery of neuronal cells and protects the cells from oxidative stress and inflammation in AD animal models.

In dark-spored slime molds and puffballs, their melanins are eumelanin (having L-DOPA as the precursor), which are similar to human melanin. Puffballs produce large and edible fruiting bodies (The largest puffball weighed 23.7 kg). Slime molds have small fruiting bodies, but the trophic stage of some species can be easily cultured at a large scale and L-DOPA and melanin synthesis can be induced by altering cultivation conditions. Therefore, these two organisms are good sources of L-DOPA and melanin.

Thus, the objectives of this project are to (1) collect slime molds and puffballs from Belgium and Vietnam, (2) detect and quantify L-DOPA in samples of different developing stages, (3) evaluate cytotoxicity, neuroprotective effects, and anti-Parkinson activity of L-DOPA-rich biomass extracts, (4) extract, purify and
chemically characterize melanins, (5) evaluate cytotoxicity and neuroprotective effects, and anti-Alzheimer activities of melanins, and (6) study the feasibility of large scale cultivation of potential species of puffball.