Sulfuretin inhibits 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal cell death via reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanisms in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

• Sulfuretin protected against 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress.
• Sulfuretin attenuated the ROS-mediated neuronal cell death.
• Sulfuretin significantly suppresses activation of NF-κB translocation.
• Sulfuretin significantly blocks phosphorylation of MAPKs, PI3K/Akt, and GSK-3β.

Sulfuretin, a potent anti-oxidant, has been thought to provide health benefits by decreasing the risk of oxidative stress-related diseases. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of sulfuretin protection of neuronal cells from cell death induced by the Parkinson’s disease (PD)-related neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). We examined whether sulfuretin acts as an anti-oxidant to reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic cascade events in 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. We also investigated whether sulfuretin specifically acts by inhibiting phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) as well as activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Sulfuretin significantly inhibited neuronal cell death, neurotoxicity, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Sulfuretin also strikingly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, sulfuretin significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) MAPKs, PI3K/Akt, and GSK-3β. Eventually, sulfuretin inhibited 6-OHDA-induced NF-κB translocation to the nucleus induced by 6-OHDA. The results of the current study provide the first evidence that sulfuretin protects SH-SY5Y cells against 6-OHDA-induced neuronal cell death, possibly through inhibition of phosphorylation of MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and GSK-3β, which leads to mitochondrial protection, NF-κB modulations and subsequent suppression of apoptosis via ROS-dependent pathways. Thus, we conclude that sulfuretin may have a potential role for neuroprotection and, therefore, may be used as a therapeutic agent for PD.