CNB-001, a novel pyrazole derivative mitigates motor impairments associated with neurodegeneration via suppression of neuroinflammatory and apoptotic response in experimental Parkinson's disease mice

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive degeneration via apoptosis of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons associated with inflammation, resulting in behavioral anomalies. Therefore, an anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory regimen may be useful in treatment of PD. CNB-001, a novel pyrazole derivative of curcumin and cyclohexyl bisphenol A has superior biological properties than its parental compounds. The present study utilizes a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of PD to investigate anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mediated neuroprotection of CNB-001. The administration of MPTP (30 mg/kg for four successive days) significantly induced motor impairments as determined by behavioral studies (narrow beam test, catalepsy and akinesia), lowered dopamine levels and up-regulated the expressions of the inflammatory and apoptotic markers (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, glial fibrillary acidic protein, cyclooxygenase-2 and Bax). Moreover, MPTP treatment attenuated Bcl-2 and nigrostriatal dopamine transporter expression and also increased total nitrite and citrulline levels in comparison to the control group. However, co-treatment with CNB-001 significantly attenuated motor impairments and pathological changes caused by MPTP administration. Collectively, our results demonstrate that CNB-001 is neuroprotective through its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. Thus, CNB-001 has potential to be further developed as a therapeutic candidate for treatment of PD.