Polygalae radix extract protects cultured rat granule cells against damage induced by NMDA.
Polygalae Radix (PR) from Polygala tenuifolia (Polygalaceae) is traditionally used in China and Korea, as this herb has a sedative, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. To extend our understanding of the pharmacological actions of PR in the CNS on the basis of its CNS inhibitory effect, the present study examined whether PR has the neuroprotective action against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cell death in primarily cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. PR, over a concentration range of 0.05 to 5 microg/ml, inhibited NMDA (1 mM)-induced neuronal cell death, which was measured by a trypan blue exclusion test and a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. PR (0.5 microg/ml) inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by NMDA (1 mM), which was measured by HPLC. Pre-treatment of PR (0.5 microg/ml) inhibited NMDA (1 mM)-induced elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), which was measured by a fluorescent dye, Fura 2-AM, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that PR prevents NMDA-induced neuronal cell damage in vitro.
Lee
Hyun Joo
HJ
College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, Korea.
Ban
Ju Yeon
JY
Koh
Sang Bum
SB
Seong
Nak Sul
NS
Song
Kyung Sik
KS
Bae
Ki Whan
KW
Seong
Yeon Hee
YH
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029608:Polygalaceae; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D002118:Calcium