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Neuroprotective Effect of Curcuminoids Against Inflammation-Mediated Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in the MPTP Model of Parkinson’s Disease

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Abstract

The present study investigated the neuroprotective effect of curcuminoids, the active polyphenols of Curcuma longa (L.) rhizomes against inflammation-mediated dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Male C57BL/6 mice were pre-treated with curcuminoids (150 mg/kg/day) for 1 week, followed by four intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injections of MPTP (20 mg/kg) at 2 h intervals with further administration of curcuminoids or deprenyl (3 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. Our results show that oral administration of curcuminoids significantly prevented MPTP-mediated depletion of dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity. In-addition, pre-treatment with curcuminoids reversed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression, as well as, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine and total nitrite generation in the striatum of MPTP-intoxicated mice. Significant improvement in motor performance and gross behavioural activity, as determined by rota-rod and open field tests were also observed. Taken together, our findings suggest that curcuminoids exert a neuroprotective effect against MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration through its anti-inflammatory action and thus holds immense potential as a therapeutic candidate for the prevention and management of PD.

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Acknowledgments

We thankfully acknowledge the Vice Chancellor, SASTRA University, Thanjavur for permitting to carry out the present research work in the Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM). We are grateful to Prof. Serge Przedborski, (Columbia University, NY, USA) for his generous support in providing relevant literature for MPTP model development. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Prof. K. Sriram (CDC-NIOSH, WV, US) for kindly revising the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine (CARISM), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India

    Rudra P. Ojha & Manisha Rastogi

  2. Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (SCBT), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India

    B. Parimala Devi

  3. Centre for Psychosomatic and Biofeedback Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P, India

    Aruna Agrawal

  4. CCRAS, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India

    G. P. Dubey

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  1. Rudra P. Ojha
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Correspondence to G. P. Dubey.

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Ojha, R.P., Rastogi, M., Devi, B.P. et al. Neuroprotective Effect of Curcuminoids Against Inflammation-Mediated Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in the MPTP Model of Parkinson’s Disease. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 7, 609–618 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-012-9363-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11481-012-9363-2

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