Neuroprotection by methanol extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla against global cerebral ischemia in rats.
In traditional Oriental medicine, Uncaria rhynchophylla has been used to lower blood pressure and to relieve various neurological symptoms. However, scientific evidence related to its effectiveness or precise modes of action has not been available. Thus, in the current study, we evaluated neuroprotective effects of U. rhynchophylla after transient global ischemia using 4-vessel occlusion model in rats. Methanol extract of U. rhynchophylla administered intraperitoneally (100-1000 mg/kg at 0 and 90 min after reperfusion) significantly protected hippocampal CA1 neurons against 10 min transient forebrain ischemia. Measurement of neuronal cell density in CA1 region at 7 days after ischemia by Nissl staining revealed more than 70% protection in U. rhynchophylla-treated rats compared to saline-treated animals. In U. rhynchophylla-treated animals, induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in hippocampus at 24 hr after ischemia was significantly inhibited at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, U. rhynchophylla extract inhibited TNF-alpha and nitric oxide production in BV-2 mouse microglial cells in vitro. These anti-inflammatory actions of U. rhynchophylla extract may contribute to its neuroprotective effects.
Suk
Kyoungho
K
Department of Herbal Pharmacology, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Tongdaemun-ku, Seoul, 130-701 South Korea.
Kim
Sun Yeou
SY
Leem
Kanghyun
K
Kim
Young Ock
YO
Park
Sun Young
SY
Hur
Jinyoung
J
Baek
Jihwoon
J
Lee
Kang Jin
KJ
Zheng
Hu Zhan
HZ
Kim
Hocheol
H
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019666:Rubiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007527:Isoenzymes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone