Curcumin protects against staurosporine toxicity in rat neurons.

Authors :: Qin XY
Lv JH
Cui J
Fang X
Zhang Y
Source :: Neuroscience bulletin [Neurosci Bull] 2012 Oct; Vol. 28 (5), pp. 606-10. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Oct 03.
Publication Year :: 2012
Abstract: Objective: Curcumin is extracted from the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa Linn.) and is widely used as a food additive and traditional medicine. The present study investigated the activity of curcumin against staurosporine (STS) toxicity in cell culture.<br />Methods: Rat hippocampal neurons in primary culture were exposed to STS (20 μmol/L) and treated with curcumin (20 μmol/L). Cell viability was tested by MTT assay and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using the MitoSOX™ red mitochondrial superoxide indicator. Western blot was used to assess changes in the levels of caspase-3 (Csp3), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and Akt.<br />Results: The results showed that curcumin protects against STS-induced cytotoxicity in rat hippocampal neurons. Csp3, Hsp70, Akt and ROS activation may be involved in this protection.<br />Conclusion: Curcumin could be a potential drug for combination with STS in cancer treatment to reduce the unwanted cytotoxicity of STS.