title: S-Allylcysteine, a garlic compound, protects against oxidative stress in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced parkinsonism in mice.
abstract: S-Allylcysteine (SAC), the most abundant organosulfur compound in aged garlic extract, has multifunctional activity via different mechanisms and neuroprotective effects that are exerted probably via its antioxidant or free radical scavenger action. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated mouse has been the most widely used model for assessing neuroprotective agents for Parkinson's disease. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) is the stable metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, and it causes nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Previous studies suggest that oxidative stress, via free radical production, is involved in MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity. Here, we report on the neuroprotective effect of SAC against oxidative stress induced by MPP(+) in the striatum of C57BL/6J mice. Mice were pretreated with SAC (125 mg/kg ip) daily for 17 days, followed by administration of MPP(+) (0.72 mg/kg icv), and were sacrificed 24 h later to evaluate lipid peroxidation, different antioxidant enzyme activities, spontaneous locomotor activity and dopamine (DA) content. MPP(+) administration resulted in a significant decrease in DA levels in the striatum. Mice receiving SAC (125 mg/kg ip) had significantly attenuated MPP(+)-induced loss of striatal DA levels (32%). The neuroprotective effect of SAC against MPP(+) neurotoxicity was associated with blocked (100% of protection) of lipid peroxidation and reduction of superoxide radical production - indicated by an up-regulation of Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase activity - both of which are indices of oxidative stress. Behavioral analyses showed that SAC improved MPP(+)-induced impairment of locomotion (35%). These findings suggest that in mice, SAC attenuates MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity in the striatum and that an antioxidant effect against oxidative stress may be partly responsible for its observed neuroprotective effects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, "Manuel Velasco Suárez," SS, Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. prcastane@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serrano-García
authors.forename: Omar N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Medina-Campos
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pedraza-Chaverri
authors.forename: Perla D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium; D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C065299:S-allylcysteine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D003545:Cysteine; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium