Neuroprotective effect of curcumin is mainly mediated by blockade of microglial cell activation.
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.
Lee
Hae Sung
HS
Pharmacology Department, National Institute of Toxicological Research, KFDA, Seoul, South Korea.
Jung
Ki Kyung
KK
Cho
Jae Youl
JY
Rhee
Man Hee
MH
Hong
Sungyoul
S
Kwon
Moosik
M
Kim
Seung Hee
SH
Kang
Seog Youn
SY
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
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