Curcumin Activates Defensive Genes and Protects Neurons Against Oxidative Stress
Publication: Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
Volume 8, Issue Number 3-4
Abstract
Spices and herbs often contain active phenolic substances endowed with potent antioxidative properties. We had previously shown that curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry, strongly induced HO-1 expression and activity in rat astrocytes. In the CNS, HO-1 has been reported to operate as a fundamental defensive mechanism for neurons exposed to an oxidant challenge. Treatment of astrocytes with curcumin upregulated expression of HO-1 protein at both cytoplasmic and nuclear levels, as shown by immunofluorescence analysis under laser-scanning confocal microscopy. A significant expression of quinone reductase and glutathione Stransferase, two members of phase II detoxification enzymes, was found in astrocytes exposed to 5–15 µM curcumin. Moreover, the effects of curcumin on HO-1 activity were explored in cultured hippocampal neurons. Elevated expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein were detected after 6 h incubation with 5–25 µM curcumin. Higher concentrations of curcumin (50–100 µM) caused a substantial cytotoxic effect with no change in HO-1 protein expression. Interestingly, pre-incubation (18 h) with curcumin resulted in an enhanced cellular resistance to glucose oxidase-mediated oxidative damage; this cytoprotective effect was considerably attenuated by zinc protoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase activity. This study gives additional support to the possible use of curcumin as a dietary preventive agent against oxidative stress-related diseases.
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Published In
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
Volume 8 • Issue Number 3-4 • March/April 2006
Pages: 395 - 403
PubMed: 16677086
Copyright
Copyright 2006, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
History
Published online: 5 May 2006
Published in print: March/April 2006
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