Anacardium microcarpum Promotes Neuroprotection Dependently of AKT and ERK Phosphorylation but Does Not Prevent Mitochondrial Damage by 6-OHDA

• Published in: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2018-01, Vol.2018 (2018), p.1-12
• Main Authors: Posser, Thaís, Franco, Jeferson Luis, Filho, Valter Menezes Barbosa, Vinadé, Lúcia, Ziech, Cynthia Camila, Rodrigues, Nathane Rosa, Echeverria Macedo, Giulianna, de Carvalho, Nelson Rodrigues, Kemmerich Martins, Illana, de Menezes, Irwin Rose Alencar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenergic Agents - toxicity; Anacardium - chemistry; Analysis; Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Brain research; Chickens; Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine; Dopaminergic Neurons - drug effects; Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism; Dopaminergic Neurons - pathology; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Female; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Glutathione transferase; Kinases; Male; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - pathology; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 - metabolism; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 - metabolism; Neurobiology; Neurodegeneration; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neurosciences; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Oxidopamine - toxicity; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - etiology; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Parkinson's disease; Pathogenesis; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism
• ISSN: 1942-0900; 1942-0994
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/2131895

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative and progressive illness characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is a widespread model for induction of molecular and behavioral alterations similar to Parkinson and has contributed for testing of compounds with neuroprotective potential. The Brazilian plant Anacardium microcarpum is used in folk medicine for treatment of several illnesses; however, the knowledge about toxicology and biological effects for this plant is very rare. The neuroprotective effect from hydroalcoholic extract and methanolic and acetate fraction of A. microcarpum on 6-OHDA-induced damage on chicken brain slices was investigated in this study. 6-OHDA decreased cellular viability measured by MTT reduction assay, induced lipid peroxidation by HPLC, stimulated Glutathione-S-Transferase and Thioredoxin Reductase activity, and decreased Glutathione Peroxidase activity and the total content of thiols containing compounds. The methanolic fraction of A. microcarpum presented the better neuroprotective effects in 6-OHDA-induced damage in relation with hydroalcoholic and acetate fraction. The presence of AKT and ERK1/2 pharmacological inhibitors blocked the protective effect of methanolic fraction suggesting the involvement of survival pathways in the neuroprotection by the plant. The plant did not prevent 6-OHDA autoxidation or 6-OHDA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, the neuroprotective effect of the methanolic fraction of A. microcarpum appears to be attributed in part to chelating properties of extract toward reactive species and is dependent on ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. This study contributes to the understanding of biochemical mechanisms implied in neuroprotective effects of the vegetal species A. microcarpum.