Neuroprotective activity of triterpenoid saponins from Platycodi radix against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultured rat cortical cells.
During our investigation of the neuroprotective activity of Platycodi radix we found that an aqueous extract of this folk medicine exhibited significant protection against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultured rat cortical cells. In order to clarify the neuroprotective mechanism(s) of this observed effect, activity-guided isolation was performed to seek and identify active fractions and components. By such fractionation, four known triterpene saponin compounds--platycodins A, C and D and deapioplatycodin D--were isolated from the n-butanol fraction. Among these four compounds, platycodin A exhibited significant neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced toxicity, exhibiting cell viability of about 50%, at concentrations ranging from 0.1 microM to 10 microM. Therefore, the neuroprotective effect of Platycodi radix might be due to the inhibition of glutamate-induced toxicity by the saponin compounds it contains.
Son
Il Hong
IH
Department of Neuroscience Sanbon Medical Center, Wonkwang University, Gunpo-city, Kyunggido, 435-040, South Korea.
Park
Yong Hoon
YH
Lee
Sung Ik
SI
Yang
Hyun Duk
HD
Moon
Hyung-In
HI
D000818:Animals; D029422:Campanulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes