title: Neuroprotective effect of rough aster butanol fraction against oxidative stress in the brain of mice challenged with kainic acid.
abstract: The neuroprotective effect of the butanol fraction from the methanol extract of Aster scaber Thunb. (rough aster butanol fraction) on oxidative damage in the brain of mice challenged with kainic acid was examined using behavioral signs and biochemical parameters of oxidative stress. The rough aster butanol fraction (0.4-1.0 g/kg) was administered to ICR male mice, 6-8 weeks, through a gavage for 4 days consecutively, and on the third day, kainic acid (50 mg/kg) was ip administered. When compared to the vehicle-treated control, no significant changes in body and brain weight were observed in mice administered the rough aster butanol fraction. Administration of kainic acid only, causing a lethality of approximately 54%, resulted in a significant decrease of total glutathione level and an increase of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) value in brain tissue. When the rough aster butanol fraction was examined for neuroprotective action, the rough aster butanol fraction (0.4 g/kg) alleviated the lethality (25%) of kainic acid and the behavioral sign of its neurotoxicity. Moreover, administration of the rough aster butanol fraction at a dose of 0.4 g/kg restored the glutathione level in the cytosolic portion of brain homogenate to approximately 80% (p < 0.05). Also, the rough aster butanol fraction (0.4 g/kg) led to a significant reduction of kainic acid-induced increase of TBARS value. In addition, the glutathione peroxidase activity was restored significantly (p < 0.05) in the cytosolic portion of brain homogenate, whereas glutathione reductase activity was not. On the basis of these results, the rough aster butanol fraction is suggested to contain a functional agent to prevent oxidative stress in the brain of mice.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Gung-Dong 220, Yuseong-Gu, Taejon 305-764, Korea.
authors.forename: Dai-Eun
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sok
authors.forename: Sang Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Yun-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mee Ree
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031173:Aster Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D000440:Butanols; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005978:Glutathione; D007608:Kainic Acid