Inhibitory effect of Garlic Powder on MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration by activation of Nrf2-HO1 and mitochondrial dynamics

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is implicated for dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Previously, research shows garlic has been shown to have potent neuroprotective effect, especially antioxidant activity on several disease models. To investigate the protective effect of Garlic powder against 1-methyl-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model, 2 months old C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal injection of MPTP (20 mg/kg) during the first 7 days of treatment. Garlic powder were given, respectively, by 13mg/kg, 26mg/kg, 52mg/kg (oral formulation) for 30 days continuously. Our data showed that Garlic powder decreased MPTP-induced behavioral impairments, alleviating dopaminergic neuron loss and mitochondrial damage as well as oxidative stress. Further, in vitro study, Garlic powder effectively decreased MPP+ (2mM)-induced oxidative stress in N2a cells. Moreover, treatment of Nrf2 inhibitor ML-385 (5µM) inhibited Garlic powder induced protective effect on cell under stress. These results indicated that Garlic powder can rescue the mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in the substantia nigra in PD mouse model and N2a cells by Nrf2-HO1 signaling pathway and mitochondrial dynamics. Garlic powder shows neuroprotective effects in PD treatment.