In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of the anti-Parkinson activity of Astaxanthin

Background and Aim:

Inflammation and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Astaxanthin (ASTX) have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotectiveeffects,therefor may be useful for treatment of PD.In the present study, we investigated the beneficial effects of ASTX against the toxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in animal and cellular models.

NMRI male mice, were used in this study. Parkinsonism was induced by injection of 6-OHDA (5 μg/1μl in 0.2 % ascorbic acid-saline) into the left striatum. Parkinsonian mice divided to: the control and treatment groups. The treatment groups were administered orally with water or ASTX (10, 20, and 30mg/kg) for 28 days.The behavioral activities of mice were determined by apomorphine-induced rotational test. The Dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells were cultured for 48 h with various concentrations of ASTX (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 μmol/L) in the presence or absence of 6-OHDA.The toxicity of 6-OHDA was evaluated by trypan blue assay. The viability of SH-SY5Y cells following 6-OHDA exposure were determined by MTT assay.

The results demonstrated that 6-OHDA-induced PD-like behavioral impairments of mice were significantly improved by ASTX. Pre incubation of SH-SY5Y cellswith ASTX inhibits the 6-OHDA ‑induced apoptosis and necrosis. The impaired viability of 6-OHDA-injured SH-SY5Y cells were significantly restored by ASTX pretreatment.

Our results indicated that ASTX treatment could protect SH-SY5Y cells and dopaminergic neurons of substantianigra from 6-OHDA -Induced Toxicity in a dose-dependent manner.