β-Caryophyllene reverses mnemonic deficits in an experimental model of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson`s Disease in rats

Parkinson`s disease (PD) is considered the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the world. Although its pathogenesis is not fully understood, one of the typical alterations of PD is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Still, advances on the course of disease demonstrated that PD patients has cognitive deficits, such as loss of operational memories, which impairing the patient`s quality of life. However, so far, there are no therapeutic options that can offer neuroprotective effects against the progress of disease; since the treatments currently available are focused only on symptom relief. In this sense, endocannabinoid system indirectly modulates dopaminergic neurotransmission, emerging as a promising pharmacological target for patients with PD.