title: Search for natural products related to regeneration of the neuronal network.
abstract: The reconstruction of neuronal networks in the damaged brain is necessary for the therapeutic treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. We have screened the neurite outgrowth activity of herbal drugs, and identified several active constituents. In each compound, neurite outgrowth activity was investigated under amyloid-beta-induced neuritic atrophy. Most of the compounds with neurite regenerative activity also demonstrated memory improvement activity in Alzheimer's disease-model mice. Protopanaxadiol-type saponins in Ginseng drugs and their metabolite, M1 (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(20S)-protopanaxadiol), showed potent regeneration activity for axons and synapses, and amelioration of memory impairment. Withanolide derivatives (withanolide A, withanoside IV, and withanoside VI) isolated from the Indian herbal drug Ashwagandha, also showed neurite extension in normal and damaged cortical neurons. Trigonelline, a constituent of coffee beans, demonstrated the regeneration of dendrites and axons, in addition to memory improvement.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Ethnomedicines, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani, Japan.
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tohda
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuboyama
authors.forename: Katsuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komatsu
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations