As　one　of　the　most　important　hallmarks　of　Alzheimer＇s　disease　(AD),　beta-amyloid　(A　beta)　plays　important　roles　in　inducing　reactive　oxygen　species　(ROS)　generation,　mitochondrial　dysfunction　and　apoptotic　cell　death　in　neurons.　Curcumin　extracted　from　the　yellow　pigments　spice　plant　turmeric　shows　multiplied　bioactivities　such　as　antioxidant　and　anti-apoptosis　properties　in　vitro　and　in　vivo.　In　the　present　study,　the　neuroprotective　effect　of　curcumin　against　A　beta(25-35)-induced　cell　death　in　cultured　cortical　neurons　was　investigated.　We　found　that　pretreatment　of　curcumin　prevented　the　cultured　cortical　neurons　from　A　beta(25-35)-induced　cell　toxicity.　In　addition,　curcumin　improved　mitochondrial　membrane　potential　(Delta　Psi　m),　decreased　ROS　generation　and　inhibited　apoptotic　cell　death　in　A　beta(25-35)　treated　neurons.　Furthermore,　we　found　that　application　of　curcumin　activated　the　expression　of　SIRT1　and　subsequently　decreased　the　expression　of　Bax　in　the　presence　of　A　beta(25-35).　The　protective　effect　of　curcumin　was　blocked　by　SIRT1　siRNA.　Taken　together,　our　results　suggest　that　activation　of　SIRT1　is　involved　in　the　neuroprotective　action　of　curcumin.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.