title: Neuroprotective Activity of Curcumin in Combination with Piperine against Quinolinic Acid Induced Neurodegeneration in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quinolinic acid (QA) is an excitotoxin that induces Huntington's-like symptoms in animals and humans. Curcumin (CMN) is a well-known antioxidant but the major problem is its bioavailability. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of CMN in the presence of piperine against QA-induced excitotoxic cell death in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  QA was administered intrastriatally at a dose of 200 nmol/2 µl saline, bilaterally. CMN (25 and 50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and combination of CMN (25 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and with piperine (2.5 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was administered daily for the next 21 days. Body weight and behavioral parameters were observed on 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st day. On the 22nd day, animals were sacrificed and striatum was isolated for biochemical (LPO, nitrite and GSH), neuroinflammatory (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and neurochemical (dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, 5-HT, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid) estimation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMN treatment showed beneficial effect against QA-induced motor deficit, biochemical and neurochemical abnormalities in rats. Combination of piperine (2.5 mg/kg/day, p.o.) with CMN (25 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly enhanced its protective effect as compared to treatment with CMN alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has revealed that the combination of CMN and piperine showed strong antioxidant and protective effect against QA-induced behavioral and neurological alteration in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, I.S.F. College of Pharmacy, Ferozepur Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, India.
authors.forename: Shamsher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D018737:Hand Strength; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000975:Antioxidants; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D002395:Catecholamines; D016207:Cytokines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D010880:Piperidines; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D003474:Curcumin; D000241:Adenosine; C008922:piperine