Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of butylphthalide on the expression of autophagy-related protein and mRNA in l-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridiniumion (MPP+)- induced SH-SY5Y cells, and to explore the protective effect and possible mechanism of butylphthalide to the cell model of Parkinson's disease. Methods The SH-SY5Y cells were divided into control group (A), MPP+ group (B), rapamycin pretreated+ MPP+ group (C) and Butylphthalide pretreated + MPP+ group (D). The relative viability of SH-SY5Y cells induced by MPP+ was measured with MTT assay, the morphology of SH-SY5Y cells was observed. The expression of microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II/I and Beclin 1 protein was detected by Western blotting. And the expression of LC3-II/I and Beclin 1 mRNA were assayed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Results The viability rates of cells were significantly lower in group B than in group A (t=20.270, P<0.001), and were significantly higher in groups C and D than in group B (t>8.770, P<0.001), however, there was no significantly difference between groups C and D (t=2.270, P=0.064). The expression of LC3-II/I and Beclin 1 was higher in group B than in group A (t>6.647, P<0.01), and was higher in groups C and D than in group B (t>3.630, P<0.01), however, there was no significantly difference between groups C and D (t<2.238, P≥0.05). Conclusion Butylphthalide could prevent the injury of SH-SY5Y cells induced by MPP+, which may affect Parkinson's disease by inducing autophagy.

Key words: butylphthalide, Parkinson's disease, SH-SY5Y cells, autophagy, rats