title: Neuroprotective dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans of Torreya nucifera.
abstract: The methanolic extract of the bark of Torreya nucifera Sieb. et Zucc. (Taxaceae) significantly protected primary cultures of rat cortical cells exposed to the excitotoxic amino acid, L-glutamate. (-)-Arctigenin (1), (-)-traxillagenin (2), arctiin (4), traxillaside (5), and a newly-reported compound 3 (-)-4'-demethyltraxillagenin [(2R,3R)-2-(4''-hydroxy-3''-methoxybenzyl)-3-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxybenzyl)-butyrolactone] were isolated by bioactivity-guided fractionation and further separation using chromatographic techniques. These lignans and their glycosides had significant neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells at concentrations ranging from 0.01 microM to 10.0 microM.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D032462:Cycadopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006027:Glycosides; D017705:Lignans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts