Bay leaf prevents dopamine-induced neurotoxicity. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Spirafolide from bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) prevents dopamine-induced apoptosis by decreasing reactive oxygen species production in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.
Arch Pharm Res. 2010 Dec;33(12):1953-8. Epub 2010 Dec 30. PMID: 21191760
Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important mediators in many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This study tested the neuroprotective effects of spirafolide, a compound purified from the leaves of Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae), against dopamine (DA)-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Following a 24-h exposure of cells to DA (final conc., 0.6 mM), we observed a marked increase in apoptosis, increased generation of ROS and decreased cell viability. Pretreatment of the cells for 24 h with spirafolide (0.4, 2, and 10μM) before exposure to DA notably increased cell survival (p<0.01) and lowered intracellular ROS levels (p<0.01). These results indicate that spirafolide has neuroprotective effects against DA toxicity. These effects may contribute to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.