AIM: To investigate the effect of curcumin on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in rat cortical neurons and to explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: Primary cultured rat cortical neurons were performed in vitro and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. DNA fragmentation was used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (?Ψm) was deter- mined by flow cytometric assay. Cellular glutathione (GSH) content was measured by spectrophotometer. Bcl-2 family proteins, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Exposure of tBHP 100 μmol/L to neurons for 60 min resulted in ?Ψm loss and cyto- chrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent activationof caspase-3 and PARP cleavation, and cell apoptosis. After removal of tBHP and then further treatment with curcumin (2.5-20 μmol/L) for 18 h, curcumin abrogated ?Ψm loss and cytochrome c release, blocked activation of caspase3, and altered the expression of Bcl-2 family. Further curcumin treatment also prevented cellular GSH and decreased intracellular ROS generation markedly. Curcumin eventually attenuated tBHP-induced apoptosis in cortical neurons. CONCLUSION: Curcumin may attenuate oxidative damages in cortical neurons by reducing intracellular production of ROS and protecting mito- chondria from oxidative damage. AIM: To investigate the effect of curcumin on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in rat cortical neurons and to explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: Primary cultured rat cortical neurons were performed in vitro and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. DNA fragmentation was used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (?Ψm) was deter-mined by flow cytometric assay. Cellular glutathione (GSH) content was measured by spectrophotometer. Bcl-2 Family proteins, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Exposure of tBHP 100 μmol/L to neurons for 60 min resulted in ??m loss and cyto- Chrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent activationof caspase-3 and PARP cleavation, and cell apoptosis. After removal of tBHP and then further treatment with curcumin (2.5-20 μmol/L) for 18 h, curcumin abrogated ?Ψm loss And cytochrome c release, blocked activation of caspase3, and altered the expression of Bcl-2 family. further curcumin treatment also wasnative cellular GSH and decreased intracellular ROS generation markedly. Curcumin eventually attenuated tBHP-induced apoptosis in cortical neurons. CONCLUSION: Curcumin may attenuate Oxidative damages in cortical neurons by reducing intracellular production of ROS and protecting mito- chondria from oxidative damage.