Curcumin stimulates proliferation of embryonic neural progenitor cells and neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus.
Curcumin is a natural phenolic component of yellow curry spice, which is used in some cultures for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Curcumin has been reported to be capable of preventing the death of neurons in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, but its possible effects on developmental and adult neuroplasticity are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on mouse multi-potent neural progenitor cells (NPC) and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Curcumin exerted biphasic effects on cultured NPC; low concentrations stimulated cell proliferation, whereas high concentrations were cytotoxic. Curcumin activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and p38 kinases, cellular signal transduction pathways known to be involved in the regulation of neuronal plasticity and stress responses. Inhibitors of ERKs and p38 kinases effectively blocked the mitogenic effect of curcumin in NPC. Administration of curcumin to adult mice resulted in a significant increase in the number of newly generated cells in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus, indicating that curcumin enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Our findings suggest that curcumin can stimulate developmental and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and a biological activity that may enhance neural plasticity and repair.
Kim
So Jung
SJ
Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Longevity Life Science and Technology Institutes, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan, Korea.
Son
Tae Gen
TG
Park
Hee Ra
HR
Park
Mikyung
M
Kim
Min-Sun
MS
Kim
Hyung Sik
HS
Chung
Hae Young
HY
Mattson
Mark P
MP
Lee
Jaewon
J
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D003474:Curcumin