Evaluation of Samjunghwan, a traditional medicine, for neuroprotection against damage by amyloid-beta in rat cortical neurons.
OBJECTIVE
Samjunghwan (SJH) is a multi-herbal traditional medicine composed of Mori Fructus, Lycii Radicis Cortex, and Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba and it is clinically applied as an anti-aging agent in neurodegenerative disorders, to promote longevity. In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of SJH in Alzheimer's disease induced by amyloid-beta (Abeta) and examined the related pathways.


METHODS
To evaluate the protective effect of SJH, we conducted thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide, lactate dehydrogenase, and MAP-2 staining assays of primary cultured rat cortical neurons stressed by Abeta(25-35). To investigate the possible mechanism of action, we examined the Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio, mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi(M)), cytochrome C release, and caspase-3 activation, focusing on the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways.


RESULTS
SJH at concentrations of 10 and 100 microg/ml provided significant protection of rat cortical neurons from Abeta(25-35) neurotoxicity. At the maximum effective dose of 100 microg/ml, SJH significantly increased the anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2)/pro-apoptotic protein (Bax) ratio and inhibited Deltapsi(M) depolarization, cytosolic cytochrome C release, and caspase-3 activation.


CONCLUSIONS
SJH appears to provide neuroprotection against mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathways in this Abeta(25-35)-induced Alzheimer's disease model.
Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyo Geun
HG
Kim
Mi Sun
MS
Ju
Hanbyeol
H
Park
Yongtaek
Y
Seo
Young Pyo
YP
Jang
Jongki
J
Hong
Myung Sook
MS
Oh
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D031174:Atractylodes / Q000737:chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010936:Plant Extracts; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35)