Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibition by active principles from Uncaria rhynchophylla.
Attenuation of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity may provide protection against oxidative neurodegeneration. For this reason, inhibition of MAO-B activity is used as part of the treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients. The hook of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks. (Rubiaceae) is a traditional Chinese herbal drug that is generally used to treat convulsive disorders. In this study, the fractionation and purification of Uncaria rhynchophylla extracts using a bioguided assay isolated two known compounds, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin. The compounds inhibited MAO-B, as measured by an assay of rat brain MAO-B separated by electrophoresis on a 7.5% native polyacrylamide gel. The IC(50) values of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin were 88.6 and 58.9 microM, respectively, and inhibition occurred in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by the fluorescence method. The Lineweaver-Burk plot revealed K(i) values for (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin of 74 and 21 microM, respectively. This suggests that these two compounds, isolated here for the first time from Uncaria rhynchophylla, might be able to protect against neurodegeneration in vitro, and, therefore, the molecular mechanism deserves further study. This finding may also increase interest in the health benefits of Uncaria rhynchophylla.
Hou
Wen-Chi
WC
Graduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
Lin
Rong-Dih
RD
Chen
Cheng-Tang
CT
Lee
Mei-Hsien
MH
D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007700:Kinetics; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D032070:Uncaria / Q000737:chemistry*
D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002392:Catechin; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase