Neuroprotective, antiapoptotic and antioxidant effects of l-carnitine against caffeine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.

Context: Caffeine is the most widely consumed nervous stimulant that induces oxidative-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in neural cells. Due to low toxicity, high accumulation in neural cells, reduction of the free fatty acids and antioxidant property, l-carnitine (LC) is an interesting compound to be used in vivo against several neuropathies.

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of LC against caffeine-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.