Neuroprotective profile of the multitarget drug rasagiline in Parkinson's disease.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors were reported to have therapeutic value in several common neurodegenerative conditions owed to their diverse pharmacological functions in neuron survival. Rasagiline (N-propargyl-1-(R)-aminoindan) is a novel, highly potent irreversible MAO-B inhibitor in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been demonstrated to be neuroprotective in PD model systems by preventing the formation of reactive oxygen species derived from prevention of derived from oxidation of dopamine by MAO-B and via an antiapoptotic action, which appears to be independent of MAO-B inhibition and related to its embedded N-propargyl moiety. This review reflects on earlier and present evidence supporting a role for rasagiline as a neuroprotective molecule in the treatment of PD.