title: Neuroprotective effect of honokiol and magnolol, compounds from Magnolia officinalis, on beta-amyloid-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.
abstract: Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) induced toxicity is a well-established pathway of neuronal cell death which might play a role in Alzheimer's disease. In this regard, the toxic effect of Aβ on a cultured Aβ-sensitive neuronal cell line was used as a primary screening tool for potential anti-Alzheimer's therapeutic agents. The effects of nine pure compounds (vitamin E, α-asarone, salidroside, baicolin, magnolol, gastrodin, bilobalide, honokiol and β-asarone) from selected Chinese herbs on neuronal cell death induced by Aβ in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells were examined. Only two of the studied compounds, honokiol and magnolol, significantly decreased Aβ-induced cell death. Further experiments indicated that their neuroprotective effects are possibly mediated through reduced ROS production as well as suppression of intracellular calcium elevation and inhibition of caspase-3 activity. The results provide for the first time a scientific rationale for the clinical use of honokiol and magnolol in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Chu Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hoi
authors.forename: Yee Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Albert H L
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031566:Magnolia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002118:Calcium; D053148:Caspase 3; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017705:Lignans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C005498:magnolol; C005499:honokiol; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat