Curcumin protects from oxidative stress and inhibits α-synuclein aggregation in MPTP induced parkinsonian mice

While curcumin has been reported to provide several health medicinal benefits, its effects on brain, particularly during diseased condition, is known very less. To evaluate the contribution of curcumin against neuropathological implications of Parkinson’s disease, mice were experimented in the present study. Both MPTP (M) and MPTP plus Curcumin (MC) group received 30 mg/Kg body weight MPTP intraperitoneally (I.p.), consecutively for 7 days at a regular interval of 24 hours and MC group additionally received curcumin (50 mg/kg body weight, I.p.) 1 hour prior to MPTP while, control mice were given saline (0.9% NaCl) during treatment period at similar time intervals. Result of MPTP treatment caused severe motor impairments, reduced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and dopamine level was found in M group. While, treatment with curcumin showed improved behavioral manifestations and increased striatal DA level, paralleling with reduced cellular stress parameters. In summary, present study suggest the neuroprotective efficacy of curcumin in MPTP induced neuropathology in MPTP Parkinsonism.