Cell: Compounds extracted from turmeric essential oil have neuroprotective effects

Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan discovered that an ingredient extracted from turmeric essential oil-arturmerone and its derivatives directly act on dopaminergic nerves, and have neuroprotective effects on tissue culture of Parkinson's disease models.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the selective death of dopaminergic neurons that transmit information to the striatum in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, leading to a decrease in dopamine production

Studies have reported that inflammation caused by activation of microglia (cells responsible for immune function in the brain) can be observed in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease

Therefore, the researchers analyzed arturmerone, the main component of turmeric essential oil, which has been reported to have anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects on microglia

Ar-turmerone contains an asymmetric carbon (S-Tur), so the researchers prepared 8 analogs to try to find those compounds with stronger anti-inflammatory effects

In order to test whether these compounds, including S-Tur, have an inhibitory effect on dopaminergic degradation, the researchers observed the culture of midbrain slices in which interferon-γ and LPS stimulation (IFN-γ/LPS) induced microglia activation

Associate Professor Takahiro Seki, who led the study, said: "Our study clarifies a new mechanism.

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Hori, Y.