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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Histological Examination of Mitochondrial Morphology in a Parkinson's Disease Model
Published on: June 23, 2023
Mitochondrial complex I inhibition in Parkinson's disease: how can curcumin protect mitochondria?
Rajeswara Babu Mythri1, Balusamy Jagatha, Nityananda Pradhan
1Department of Psychopharmacology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Abstract:
Selective damage of mitochondrial complex I within the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is the central event during Parkinson disease. Peroxynitrite is one of the important free radicals probably mediating complex I damage. Peroxynitrite inhibits brain complex I mainly by 3-nitrotyrosine and nitrosothiol formation, but how these modifications alter the structure-function relation of complex I is unclear. Curcumin pretreatment protects brain mitochondria against peroxynitrite in vitro by direct detoxification and prevention of 3-nitrotyrosine formation and in vivo by elevation of total cellular glutathione levels. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role for curcumin against nitrosative stress in neurological disorders.
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