Protective effect of panaxatriol saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
Panaxatriol saponins (PTS), the main constituents extracted from Panax notoginseng, a Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown to be an effective agent on various diseases. Our previous study has demonstrated that PTS is an inducer of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) and has a possible potential as a therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the effect of PTS on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity in vivo is unknown.


METHODS
Using locomotor activity test and traction test, we detected the effect of PTS on MPTP-induced behavioral impairment. Tyrosine hydroxylase, Trx-1, cyclooxygenase-2, pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-12 and caspase-3 expressions in the anatomical region of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) were tested by Western blot.


RESULTS
PTS provided neuroprotection against the loss of dopaminergic neurons and behavioral impairment caused by MPTP. MPTP-induced neuronal death in the SNc was suppressed by PTS through increasing Trx-1 expression, suppressing cyclooxygenase-2 over-expression and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
PTS, an inducer of Trx-1, has pluripharmacological properties in the protection against PD including enhancing antioxidant activity, acting as neurotrophic factor, modulating inflammation and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.
Luo
Fu-Cheng
FC
College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650224, China.
Wang
Sheng-Dong
SD
Qi
Lei
L
Song
Jun-Ying
JY
Lv
Tao
T
Bai
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053454:Caspase 12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D036145:Ginsenosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; C519374:Panax notoginseng extract; D012503:Saponins; C004563:panaxatriol; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C506440:Casp12 protein, mouse; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; C506434:Casp9 protein, mouse; D053454:Caspase 12; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9