{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,7]],"date-time":"2025-10-07T00:45:52Z","timestamp":1759797952895,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,6]],"date-time":"2025-10-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759708800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The study aimed to evaluate the effect of betanin\u2014a bioactive, natural pigment found in beetroot and prickly pear\u2014on cognitive function, motor performance, and neurotransmission in a mouse model of Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD). Aged mice with PD-like symptoms induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) were pretreated with betanin (50 or 100 mg\/kg b.w.\/day) via drinking water. Behavioural tests assessed motor skills, anxiety-related behaviour, and spatial memory. Biochemical analyses of central nervous system structures were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine neurotransmitter levels and metabolites. Betanin improved motor and cognitive functions in MPTP-treated mice. While learning ability remained unchanged, the 50 mg\/kg dose alleviated spatial memory deficits. Biochemically, betanin moderately limited dopamine depletion and significantly influenced dopamine metabolism and serotonin levels. These findings suggest that betanin, as a functional food component, may exert neuroprotective effects and support cognitive and motor function in neurodegenerative conditions such as PD.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26199726","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,6]],"date-time":"2025-10-06T15:05:06Z","timestamp":1759763106000},"page":"9726","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Neuroprotective Effects of Betanin in a Mouse Model of Parkinson\u2019s Disease: Behavioural and Neurotransmitter Pathway Insights"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Katarzyna","family":"Zi\u0119tal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0990-3017","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kamilla","family":"Blecharz-Klin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ilona","family":"Joniec-Maciejak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Agnieszka","family":"Piechal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Justyna","family":"Pyrzanowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5511-5185","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ewa","family":"Machaj","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6294-3256","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dagmara","family":"Mirowska-Guzel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8465-2959","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ewa","family":"Widy-Tyszkiewicz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5178","DOI":"10.1021\/jf010456f","article-title":"Betalains-a new class of dietary cationized antioxidants","volume":"49","author":"Kanner","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. 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