title: Neuroprotective effect of baicalein against MPTP neurotoxicity: behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical profile.
abstract: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes the damage of dopaminergic neurons as seen in Parkinson's disease (PD). Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Baicalein, isolated from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Here we investigated the effect of baicalein on MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Pretreatment with baicalein for a week was followed by challenge with MPTP for 4 consecutive days; the subsequent behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical manifestations in mice were determined and compared to those in untreated mice and mice challenged only with MPTP. The present study showed that baicalein could improve the abnormal behavior in MPTP-treated mice. The protective effect may be caused by increasing the levels of DA and 5-HT in the striatum, increasing the counts of dopaminergic neurons, inhibiting oxidative stress and the astroglia response. These results suggest that baicalein possesses potent neuroprotective activity and may be a potential anti-Parkinson's disease drug that is worthy of further study.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yinxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Guorong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Tiantai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoxiu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Juanjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guanhua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D044950:Flavanones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D044950:Flavanones; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C006680:baicalein; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase