Background and Objective: Parkinson is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to incurable and debilitating conditions. Herbal extracts can afford protection against neurodegenerative diseases due to their bioactive compounds. In the present study, we investigated the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of B. carduchrum on catalepsy and brain oxidative stress in rat’s model of Parkinson’s disease.
Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight animals. The control group was left intact. Parkinsonian group received an injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the right anterior mid-brain. Extract treated groups received hydro-alcoholic extract of B. carduchrum at doses of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg by gavage seven days after 6-OHDA injection. 14 days after treatment, bar test was performed and lipid peroxide levels of different brain regions were determined. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey's test using SPSS software and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: In 6-OHDA-lesioned group, bar time was increased significantly (P<0.05) when compared with the control group (122.50±90.12 versus 0.00±0.00). B. carduchrum at doses of 200 and 400mg/kg significantly reduced 6-OHDA induced catalepsy (P<0.0.5). 6-OHDA treatment leads to significant increases in lipid peroxide levels of cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus and striatum (P<0.05). Administration of B. carduchrum extract at different doses caused significant reduction in the lipid peroxide levels of different brain regions (P<0.05).
Conclusion: B. carduchrum extract ameliorated 6-OHDA -induced catalepsy and lipid peroxide level of brain in rat’s model of Parkinson’s disease.

Background and Objective: Dyskinesia is a debilitating complication of Parkinson's disease (PD), which appears due to some known risk factors. The effect of diabetes and high plasma glucose on the manifestation of dyskinesia has been evaluated in just a few previous reports. The current study aimed to assess the mentioned correlation.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 88 patients with PD were enrolled and categorized into two equal groups of diabetic and non-diabetic patients. They were selected from the movement disorder clinic in Rasoul Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Patients were evaluated regarding the presence of dyskinesia and its characteristics, besides the assessment of other clinical parameters. 
Results: The prevalence of dyskinesia in diabetics, compared to non-diabetics, showed a higher rate (P=0.033). Baseline parameter equality was confirmed to exclude the confounding bias effect. Simultaneous involvement of upper and lower extremities (right after drug intake) was the most prevalent sign of dyskensia in diabetic patients with PD.
Conclusion: The comorbidity of PD and diabetes showed a higher prevalence of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in PD; this result was obtained based on homogeneity of the two groups in manners of age, disease, treatment duration and the dosage of levodopa.