Ginkgolide A, B, and huperzine A inhibit nitric oxide production from rat C6 and human BT325 glioma cells.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of ginkgolide A, B (Gin A, Gin B) and huperzine A (Hup A) on nitric oxide (NO) production from cultured astrocytes.


METHODS
Nitrites in supernatants were measured with Griess assay.


RESULTS
Hup A 0.001-100 mumol.L-1 time- and concentration-dependently inhibited the NO production from rat C6 astrocytoma cells. The NO production from C6 cells was concentration-dependently inhibited by the treatment with Gin A or Gin B 0.001-10 micromol.L-1 for 24 h. The NO production from human BT325 astrocytoma cells was concentration-dependently inhibited by Hup A, Gin A, or Gin B 0.01-10 micromol.L-1 for 24 h.


CONCLUSIONS
Gin A, Gin B, and Hup A inhibited astrocytes producing NO.
Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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Zhao
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Li
D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004224:Diterpenes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046934:Ginkgolides; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism
D000470:Alkaloids; D004224:Diterpenes; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007783:Lactones; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C045856:ginkgolide B