Effect of Curcumin on Rat Embryonic Neuroprogenitor Cells Under in Vitro Conditions

Curcumin، a yellow pigment obtained from turmeric (Curcumina longa). It is a dietary polyphenol that has been reported to possess anticancer، anti-inflammatory، and antioxidant properties. Curcumin is potent radical scavenger and has key role in cell death prevention and because of its antioxidant ability، curcumin has possible role in protection against neurodegenerative diseases. In this study we evaluate the effects of curcumin on rat embryonic neuroprogenitor cells viability and proliferation. In this study brain cortex of 15. 5 day old embryos of Wistar rat dissected out and enzymaticaly dissociated to form single cell suspension. Cell suspension seeded in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with N2، 1% antibiotic and mitogenes (10 ng. ml-1EGF and 20 ng. ml-1 b-FGF). Cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumin (0. 1، 0. 5، and 1μM). Cell viability was evaluated with MTT assay and immunocytochemical analysis was performed to evaluate astrocytic marker (GFAP). The data were analyzed with One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test. curcumin (0. 5 μM) enhanced astrocytes neurite size (p<0. 001) and also has significante effects on neuroprogenitor cells differentiation in culture media. Data suggest that curcumin enhanced neuroprogenitor cells viability، growth and promoted differentiation of these cells in to astrocytes.