Curcumin protects mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2A cells against hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress

Curcumin has been traditionally used in China and India for food and medicinal purposes. It has been shown to possess potent antioxidative activity both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects and the potential mechanisms of curcumin against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2A cells were investigated. Treatment with curcumin at 20 and 25 μg/mL for 1 h prior to H2O2 exposure significantly attenuated cell viability loss, reduced apoptosis, suppressed the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium levels, and stabilised mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, curcumin could block H2O2-mediated degradation of the protein IκBα and subsequent activation of nuclear factor κB, thus inhibiting the expression of its target gene cyclooxygenase 2. These results indicate that curcumin has potential protective effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in neuron cells, which might make curcumin a suitable therapeutic agent for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress.