Planta Med 2010; 76 - P310
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264608

The effect of some flavonoids and pyruvate on 6-hydroxydopamine and 3-hydroxykynurenine induced neurotoxicity

N Wszelaki 1, M Melzig 1
  • 1Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany

Oxidative stress has been strongly implicated as one of the cause in cell death in many neurodegenerative disorders. Due to antioxidative properties in vitro, the use of flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds synthetised by plants are considered to be a promising strategy to treat Alzheimer's disease and Parkinsons's disease. In the present study, we tested the protective effects of some flavonoids and sodium pyruvate on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) neurotoxcicity in retinoic acid differentiated and non differentiated human neuroblastoma cells SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y. Sodium pyruvate prevented 6-OHDA and 3-HK induced cell viability reduction. However, neither pre-treatment with flavonoids nor simultaneous addition had any protective effects in the 6-OHDA and 3HK model of neurotoxicity. The ability of sodium pyruvate to exhibit neuroprotection in the 6-OHDA and 3-HK toxicity may be related to the antioxidant properties and the capability to penetrate into the cell.