BackgroundMitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are the main toxic events leading to dopaminergic neuronal death in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and identified as vital objective for therapeutic intercession. This study investigated the neuro-protective effects of the demethoxycurcumin (DMC), a derivative of curcumin against rotenone induced neurotoxicity.MethodsSH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are divided into four experimental groups: untreated cells, cells incubated with rotenone (100 nM), cells treated with DMC (50 nM) + rotenone (100 nM) and DMC alone treated. 24 h after treatment with rotenone and 28 h after treatment with DMC, cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and levels of ROS and MMP, plus expression of apoptotic protein were analysed.ResultsRotenone induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells was significantly reduced by DMC pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner, indicating the potent neuroprotective effects of DMC. Rotenone treatment significantly increases the levels of ROS, loss of MMP, release of Cyt-c and expression of pro-apoptotic markers and decreases the expression of anti-apoptotic markers.ConclusionsEven though the results of the present study indicated that the DMC may serve as a potent therapeutic agent particularly for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like PD, further pre-clinical and clinical studies are required.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1720-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The present study was aimed to find out the effect of Agaricus blazei mushroom extract against rotenone-induced cellular model. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are divided into four experimental groups (control, rotenone (100 nM), A. blazei (5 μg/ml) + rotenone (100 nM), and A. blazei alone treated) based on MTT assay, cells were allowed to measure the ROS, TBARS levels, and antioxidants activities. Finally, mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP) and expressions of apoptotic proteins were also analyzed. Pre-treatment with A. blazei significantly enhanced cell viability, attenuated rotenone-induced ROS, MMP, and apoptosis. Our results indicated that anti-apoptotic properties of this natural compound due to its antioxidant and mitochondrial protective function protect rotenone-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, it may be concluded that A. blazei can be further developed as a promising drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Neuroinflammation and oxidative damage are the two main malfactors that play an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental and clinical Parkinson's disease (PD). The current study was aimed to study the possible anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of Agaricus blazei (A. blazei) against rotenone-induced PD in mice. Male Albino mice were randomized and divided into the following groups: control, treated with rotenone (1 mg/kg/day), co-treated with rotenone and A. blazei (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.w.), and treated with A. blazei alone (200 mg/kg b.w.). After the end of the experimental period, behavioral studies, biochemical estimations, and protein expression patterns of inflammatory markers were studied. Rotenone treatment exhibited enhanced motor impairments, neurochemical deficits, oxidative stress, and inflammation, whereas oral administration of A. blazei extract attenuated the above-said indices. Even though further research is needed to prove its efficacy in clinical studies, the results of our study concluded that A. blazei extract offers a promising and new therapeutic lead for treatment of PD.

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