Ulva conglobata, a marine algae, has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in murine hippocampal and microglial cells.
It has been reported that inflammatory processes are associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the treatment of AD using anti-inflammatory agents slows the progress of AD. Marine algae have been utilized in food products as well as in medicine products for a variety of purposes. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of methanol extracts of Ulva conglobata (U. conglobata), a marine algae, on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in the murine hippocampal HT22 cell line and the anti-inflammatory effects on interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced microglial activation in BV2 cells. U. conglobata methanol extracts significantly attenuated the neurotoxicity induced by glutamate in HT22 cells and inhibited nitric oxide production induced by IFN-gamma in BV2 cells. U. conglobata methanol extract treatments were also examined and it was found that they almost completely suppressed the expression of the proinflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). These results suggest that U. conglobata possesses therapeutic potential for combating neurodegenerative diseases associated with neuroinflammation.
Jin
Da-Qing
DQ
Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute for Brain Science and Technology (IBST), Hanwha CC R&D Center Building, Inje University, 6 Shinsung-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-804, South Korea.
Lim
Chol Seung
CS
Sung
Jin-Young
JY
Choi
Han Gil
HG
Ha
Ilho
I
Han
Jung-Soo
JS
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D044445:Ulva / Q000737:chemistry*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2