Reyhaneh Taheri - Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Zahra Tayarani Najaran - Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Elham Hadipour - Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background: Crocin is a known compound with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which may help to reduce the progression of neurological disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of crocin on beta-amyloid peptide Aβ (۱-۴۰) and hydrogen peroxide (H۲O۲) induced neurotoxicity in PC۱۲ cells.Methods: PC۱۲ cells were pretreated with crocin and donepezil (۵ and ۱۰ μM) for ۲ h and then treated with Aβ (۱-۴۰) (۲۵ μM) for ۲۴ h. In parallel, after pretreatment with crocin (۵ and ۱۰ μM) and donepezil (۵ and ۱۰ μM) for ۲۴ h, cells were treated with H۲O۲ (۸۰۰ μM) for ۴ h. Finally, the cell viability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were evaluated using AlamarBlue® and ۲', ۷'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), respectively. The western blot test was done to compare the protein level of phospho SAPK/JNK, SAPK/JNK, PI۳ Kinase P۸۵, Phospho-PI۳ Kinase P۸۵, caspase-۳ and cytochrome c) cyt c).Results: Crocin and donepezil could significantly decrease the Aβ toxicity and ROS level. While treatment with Aβ increased Cyt c release from mitochondria to cytosol, cleaved form of caspase-۳ (۱۷ kDa) and activated form of SAPK/JNK p۴۴/۴ decreased the activated form of PI۳ Kinase P۸۵ protein, indicating that crocin could significantly block the apoptosis initiated with Aβ.Conclusion: According to the results, crocin could be a promising candidate for further evaluations against the development of Alzheimer's disease through mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and the phosphatidylinositol ۳-kinase (PI۳K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling (PI۳ K/AKT) pathways.

Alzheimer's disease, beta-amyloid, crocin, hydrogen peroxide, donepezil, oxidative stress