Aralia cordata protects against amyloid beta protein (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity in cultured neurons and has antidementia activities in mice.
The present study investigated an ethanol extract of the aerial part of Aralia cordata Thunb. (Araliaceae) for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid beta (Abeta) protein (25 - 35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 10 muM Abeta(25 - 35) for 36 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 1 - 10 mug/ml, A. cordata inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)), glutamate release into the medium, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Abeta(25-35) in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of ICR mice with 15 nmol Abeta(25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with A. cordata (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test, and corresponding reductions were observed in brain cholinesterase activity and neuronal death measured histologically in the hippocampal region. Oleanolic acid isolated from A. cordata also inhibited neuronal death, elevation of [Ca(2+)](i), glutamate release, and generation of ROS induced by Abeta(25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons, suggesting that the neuroprotective effect of A. cordata may be, at least in part, attributable to this compound. From these results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of A. cordata is due to its neuroprotective effect against Abeta(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that A. cordata may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Cho
Soon Ock
SO
College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Korea.
Ban
Ju Yeon
JY
Kim
Joo Youn
JY
Jeong
Ha Yeon
HY
Lee
Ik Soo
IS
Song
Kyung-Sik
KS
Bae
Kihwan
K
Seong
Yeon Hee
YH
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D027983:Aralia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D002802:Cholinesterases; D002118:Calcium