title: Protection of brain cells against AMPA-induced damage by Asiasari Radix extracts.
abstract: We determined whether Asiasari Radix (AR) extracts have protective actions in brain cells. Methanol extracts of Asiasari Radix (fraction 1) have significant inhibitory effects on the AMPA-induced rat cortical depolarization in the grease gap assay. In differentiated PC12 cells, it almost completely protected against AMPA-induced cell death. In addition, it had some protective actions in C6 glial cells death induced by AMPA. The methanol extracts (fraction 1) of AR were subsequently fractionated into chloroform-(fraction 2), chloroform/methanol-(3:1) (fraction 3), methanol-soluble (fraction 4) and methanol-insoluble, water-soluble fractions (fraction 5). Among these, fraction 4 had the strongest inhibitory effects against AMPA-induced cell death in the PC 12 cells and also dramatically inhibited AMPA-induced depolarization of rat brain cortex in the grease gap assay. Interestingly, fraction 4 blocked the Zn-induced oxidative damages in C6 glial cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030023:Asarum; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid