en Cell, Stem Cell and Cancer Cell, Stem Cell and Cancer Experimental research article Experimental research article <div style="text-align: justify;">Introduction: Parkinson&rsquo;s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the continuous deficit of dopaminergic neural cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The natural compounds from plant extracts, such as turmeric, have been proposed as alternative sources for anti-PD drugs. Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y is a dopaminergic neuronal cell line used as an in vitro model for the study of dopaminergic cells. The neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has been known to induce cell death in dopaminergic neural cells. Curcumin, as the main ingredient of turmeric, has been shown to protect against some animal models of PD. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential neuroprotective effect of curcumin against the 6-OHDA-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells and to delineate its effect on Akt/GSK-3&beta; signaling. Methods: The cells were exposed to 6-OHDA with/without different doses of curcumin and their viability was examined via MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and morphological observations. According to the MTT results, the protective doses of curcumin (2 and 2.5&mu;M) were selected for further studies. Western blot assay was done to determine the phosphorylated and total amount of Akt and GSK-3&beta; proteins. Results: 6-OHDA induced cell death and declined Akt/GSK-3&beta; phosphorylation, while curcumin co-treatment partially restored these effects. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that curcumin protects the SH-SY5Y cells from 6-OHDA-induced cell death and Akt/GSK-3&beta; signaling alteration. Thus, our study indicates that curcumin has a partial cytoprotective effect in dopaminergic cell culture systems.</div> Parkinson’s disease, 6-OHDA, SH-SY5Y, Curcumin, Akt, GSK-3β 163 171 http://ppj.phypha.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1085-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Maryam Moosavi marmoosavi@sums.ac.ir 3200319475328460020030 3200319475328460020030 Yes Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Majid Reza Farrokhi farokhim@sums.ac.ir 3200319475328460020031 3200319475328460020031 No Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Narges Tafreshi Narges.Tafreshi@moffitt.org 3200319475328460020032 3200319475328460020032 No Department of Cancer Imaging and Metabolism, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA