Protective effect of Chrysanthemum indicum Linne against 1-methyl-4-phenylpridinium ion and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytotoxicity in cellular model of Parkinson’s disease

Chrysanthemum indicum Linn. (CI) has been used in Oriental medicine for several centuries. In the present study, the effect of CI extract was evaluated against 1-methyl-4-phenylpridinium ion (MPP+)-induced damage in SH-SY5Y cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Cell viability, oxidative damage, reactive oxygen species, expression of Bcl-2/Bax, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteolysis were evaluated using SH-SY5Y cells. Production of iNOS, prostaglandin E2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, interleukin (IL)-6, expression of cyclooxygenase type-2 (COX-2) and type-1 (COX-1) were examined in activated BV-2 microglia. At 1, 10 and 100 μg, CI inhibited cell loss, decreased the reactive oxygen species production, regulated the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and inhibited PARP proteolysis in MPP+-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, CI suppressed the production of prostaglandin E2, expression of cyclooxygenase type-2 (COX-2), blocked IκB-α degradation and activation of NF-κB p65 in BV-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The molecular mechanisms involved by CI might involve its inhibitory actions both on neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory NF-κB/IκB-α signaling pathway. The present investigation scientifically supports the long history and safe usage of CI as an important functional food with potential benefits in ameliorating deleterious conditions seen in PD.