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.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361-763, Korea.
Hyun Joo
HJ
Lee
Ju Yeon
JY
Ban
Sang Bum
SB
Koh
Nak Sul
NS
Seong
Kyung Sik
KS
Song
Ki Whan
KW
Bae
Yeon Hee
YH
Seong
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