title: Neuroprotective effect of curcumin is mainly mediated by blockade of microglial cell activation.
abstract: Curcumin, the major yellow pigment in turmeric (Curcuma longa), is a well-documented naturally-occurring anti-oxidant with numerous pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and anti-bacterial effects. In this study, curcumin's neuroprotective effect was carefully examined using a coculture system, based on reports that curcumin-containing plants are neuroprotective. Coculturing neuronal cells and activated microglial cells enhanced dopamine-induced neuronal cell death from 30% up to 50%. However, curcumin did not protect dopamine-directed neuronal cell death and sodium nitroprosside (SNP)-induced NO generation, but only blocked activated microglial cell-mediated neuronal cell damage under inflammatory conditions. Indeed, curcumin blocked the production of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic mediators such as NO, TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, and IL-6 produced from Abeta(25-35)/IFN-gamma- and LPS-stimulated microglia, in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, our results suggest that curcumin-mediated neuroprotective effects may be mostly due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, National Institute of Toxicological Research, KFDA, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki Kyung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jae Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Man Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Sungyoul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Moosik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Seung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seog Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D009599:Nitroprusside; C007293:DAPI; D003474:Curcumin; D004298:Dopamine