Protective effect of methanol extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla against excitotoxicity induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate in rat hippocampus.
Uncaria rhynchophylla is a medicinal herb used for convulsive disorders in Oriental medicine. In this study, the effect of the methanol extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity was investigated. Pretreatment with the extract of Uncaria rhynchopylla reduced the degree of neuronal damage induced by NMDA exposure in cultured hippocampal slices. In the patch clamp study, Uncaria rhynchophylla significantly inhibited NMDA receptor-activated ion current in acutely dissociated hippocampal CA1 neurons. These results indicate that Uncaria rhynchophylla offers protection against NMDA-induced neuronal injury and inhibitory action on NMDA receptor-mediated ion current may be a mechanism behind the neuroprotective effect of Uncaria rhynchophylla.
Lee
Jongseok
J
Department of Herbal Pharmacology, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Son
Dongwook
D
Lee
Pyeongjae
P
Kim
Dae-Keun
DK
Shin
Min-Chul
MC
Jang
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
Kim
Yong-Sik
YS
Kim
Sun-Yeou
SY
Kim
Hocheol
H
D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000432:Methanol; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011419:Propidium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D032070:Uncaria / Q000737:chemistry*
D007473:Ion Channels; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011419:Propidium; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D000432:Methanol