Catalpol protects mesencephalic neurons against MPTP induced neurotoxicity via attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction and MAO-B activity

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside, separated from the root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, has been known to show various neuroprotective effects. In humans and rodents, MPTP is well known to produce clinical, biochemical and neurochemical changes similar to those which occur in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Furthermore, the accumulated evidence suggests that MPP+, conversed by monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) in astrocytes principally, is the active metabolite of MPTP and the major cause to PD associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we treated mesencephalic neuron-astrocyte and astrocytes cultures with MPTP (0.05 mM) respectively to investigate the neuroprotective effects of catalpol and the underlying protective mechanisms. Our results showed that pre-treatment with catalpol (0.5 mM) for 1 h prior to MPTP treatment attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction not only by reversing the activity of mitochondrial complex I, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular Ca2+ level, and ROS accumulation as well as mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore opening in mesencephalic neuron-astrocyte cultures, but also inhibiting MAO-B activity to protect neurons from more MPP+ toxicity produced in astrocytes. Together, all of these indicated that catalpol possesses potent neuroprotective activity and may be a potential anti-PD drug worthy for further study.