title: Neurotrophic activity of obovatol on the cultured embryonic rat neuronal cells by increase of neurotrophin release through activation of ERK pathway.
abstract: Previously, we found that obovatol, a lignan compound isolated from Magnolia officinalis, has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic effects. Recent studies showed that honokiol, magnolol, and 4-O-methylhonokiol, lignin compounds isolated from the Magnolia family have neurotrophic activity. In this study, we examined whether or not obovatol also exhibits neurite-promoting effects on rat embryonic neuronal cells. Obovatol increased neurite outgrowth in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistent with the neurite outgrowth effect, the expression of neurite differentiation markers also increased in response to obovatol. We also found that obovatol increased levels of NGF and BDNF released into the culture medium. In addition, the combination of low concentrations of obovatol (1 and 2 μM) with NGF (50 ng/ml) or with BDNF (10 ng/ml) greatly enhanced neurite outgrowth. Subsequently, we found that obovatol increased phosphorylation of ERK. However, the neurite outgrowth, and NGF and BDNF release induced by obovatol were prevented by an ERK-specific inhibitor. These results suggest that obovatol promotes neurite outgrowth due to the increased release of neurotrophic factors via activation of the ERK pathway.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 12 Geashin-dong, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Kyoung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Im Seop
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Hwang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Dong Cheul
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Yeo Pyo
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Sang Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ki-Wan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jin Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C036795:obovatol; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor