title: Naphthazarin has a protective effect on the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson's disease model.
abstract: "Neurohormesis" refers to a response to a moderate level of stress that enhances the ability of the nervous systems to resist more severe stress that might be lethal or cause dysfunction or disease. Neurohormetic phytochemicals, such as, resveratrol, sulforaphane, curcumin, and catechins, protect neurons against injury and disease. Naphthoquinones, such as, juglone and plumbagin, induce robust hormetic stress responses. However, the possibility that subtoxic dose of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (naphthazarin) may protect against brain diseases via the activation of an adaptive stress response pathway in the brain has not been investigated. In this study, we examined the neurohormetic effect of a subtoxic dose of naphthazarin in a Parkinson's disease model. It was found that, under these conditions, naphthazarin enhanced movement ability, prevented loss of dopaminergic neurons, and attenuated neuroinflammation in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinson's disease model. Furthermore, it was found that the neuroprotective effect of naphthazarin was mediated by the suppression of astroglial activation in response to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine treatment. In conclusion, we suggest that naphthazarin, in view of its hormetic effect on neuroprotection, be viewed as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuroinflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, and Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tae Gen
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Hee Ra
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Shin Bi
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009285:Naphthoquinones; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C005503:naphthazarin