Neuroprotective effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid against neurodegeneration in rat models of Parkinson's disease and stroke

• Main Authors: Masanori Hijioka, Kanori Kitamura, Daijiro Yanagisawa, Kaneyasu Nishimura, Kazuyuki Takata, Masatoshi Inden, Yoshihisa Kitamura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-11-01
• Series: Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
• Subjects: 5-Aminolevulinic acid; Neuroprotection; Oxidative stress
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1347861320300773

Oxidative stress is associated with the progression of the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson's disease (PD) and cerebral ischemia. Recently, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), an intermediate in the porphyrin synthesis pathway, was reported to exert antioxidative effects on macrophages and cardiomyocytes. Here, we demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of 5-ALA using rat models of PD and ischemia as well as in vitro in SH-SY5Y cells. 5-ALA partially prevented neurodegeneration in each condition. These results suggest that 5-ALA has a potential for promising therapeutic agent to protect against neurodegeneration exacerbated by oxidative stress.