Curcumin and an antioxidant formulation protect C57BL/6J mice from MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease like changes: potential neuroprotection for neurodegeneration

Figures & data

Table 1 Dosage and treatment protocol for the study

Groups	Treatments: first–28th day (every other day)	Treatments: 29th–35th day
1	PBS + T-80	PBS + T-80
2	PBS + T-80	PBS + T-80 + MPTP 30 mg/kg
3	Curcumin: 25 μg/1 mg/kg	Curcumin, 25 mg + MPTP, 30 mg/kg
4	Curcumin: 50 μg/2 mg/kg	Curcumin, 50 mg + MPTP, 30 mg/kg
5	AOF: 25 mg/kg	AOF 25 mg + MPTP, 30 mg/kg
6	AOF: 50 mg/kg	AOF 50 mg + MPTP, 30 mg/kg

Note: Six animals were used in each group.

Abbreviations: AOF, antioxidant formulation; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyramidine; PBS + T-80, PBS + 0.1% Tween-80.

Figure 1 The effect of postnatal PBS (C1), MPTP (C2), MPTP + CUR (C3 and C4) and MPTP + AOF (C5 and C6) treatments on motor activities in C57BL/6J mice.

Notes: Measures were made 24 hours after the last postnatal injection of PBS; MPTP 30 mg/kg; MPTP + CUR, 25 µg or 1 mg/kg; MPTP + CUR, 50 µg or 2 µg/kg; MPTP + AOF, 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg. The TD, NM and MT were determined using an activity monitor (Degiscan Instruments Inc., Columbus, OH, USA). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM of six animals. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance with P≤0.05. Asterisks (*) indicate the comparison between PBS control and the treated groups, and the pound sign (#) indicates the significance between MPTP vs rest of the groups. MPTP reduced all measures and curcumin and the AOF counteracted the effects of MPTP.
Abbreviations: AOF, antioxidant formulation; C, column; CUR, curcumin; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyramidine; MT, movement time; NM, number of movements; TD, total distance.

Figure 2 The effect of postnatal PBS (C1), MPTP (C2), MPTP + CUR (C3 and C4) and MPTP + AOF (C5 and C6) treatments on the levels of DA, DOPAC and 3-MT on in C57BL/6J mice.

Notes: The animals were sacrificed 1 day after the last postnatal injection and tested for changes in motor activities. The treatments are shown in the legend. MPTP reduced DA, DOPAC and 3-MT and curcumin and the AOF ameliorated the effects of MPTP. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM of six animals. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance with P≤0.05, and asterisks (*) indicate the comparison between PBS and the groups, # indicates the significance between MPTP vs rest of the groups. MPTP reduced all measures and curcumin and the AOF counteracted the effects of MPTP.
Abbreviations: 3-MT, 3-methoxytyramine; AOF, antioxidant formulation; C, column; CUR, curcumin; DA, dopamine; DOPAC, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyramidine.

Figure 3 Immunoblot (A) and densitometry analysis (B) of striatal TH for mice treated with PBS (C1), MPTP 30 mg/kg (C2), MPTP + 1 mg/kg CUR (C3), MPTP + 2 mg/kg CUR (C4), MPTP + 25 mg/kg AOF (C5) or MPTP + 50 mg/kg AOF (C6).

Notes: Bands shown in (A) and the graphic quantification in (B) are for the respective treatment groups C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6. Treatment with MPTP reduced TH (C1 vs C2), and CUR and the AOF show ameliorating effects on the striatal TH (C2 compared with C3, C4, C5 and C6). The values are expressed as mean ± SEM for three animals.
Abbreviations: AOF, antioxidant formulation; C, column; CUR, curcumin; DA, dopamine; DOPAC, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyramidine. TH, tyrosine hydroxylase.

Figure 4 Immunoblot (A) and densitometry analysis (B) of midbrain TH for mice treated with PBS (C1), MPTP 30 mg/kg (C2), MPTP + 1 mg/kg CUR (C3), MPTP + 2 mg/kg CUR (C4), MPTP + 25 mg/kg AOF (C5), MPTP + 50 mg/kg AOF (C6).

Notes: Bands are shown in (A) and the graphic quantification for the bands in (B) for the respective treatment groups C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6. Treatment with MPTP reduced TH (C1 vs C2), CUR showed minimal increasing effect, but the AOF showed ameliorating effects on midbrain TH (C2 vs C5 and C6). The values are expressed as mean ± SEM for three animals.
Abbreviations: AOF, antioxidant formulation; C, column; CUR, curcumin; DA, dopamine; DOPAC, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyramidine. TH, tyrosine hydroxylase.