title: Dangguijakyak-san, a medicinal herbal formula, protects dopaminergic neurons from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dangguijakyak-san (DJS) is a multi-herbal formula that has long been widely used in traditional Oriental medicine to treat gynecologic disorders, including neurological symptoms. Recent clinical and experimental studies have reported aging and anti-neurodegenerative effects of DJS. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of DJS on dopaminergic (DA) neurons damaged by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA).
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the protective effects of DJS, we analyzed viability in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) staining in primary DA cells. To explore the possible mechanism(s) of neuroprotection, we assessed anti-oxidant activity by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. To determine mitochondria-mediated apoptotic activity, we examined mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DJS at 0.05-5 μg/mL significantly protected SH-SY5Y cells from 6-OHDA toxicity, dose-dependently, and attenuated 6-OHDA damage in primary DA cells. DJS reduced 6-OHDA-induced intracellular ROS production and GSH depletion and inhibited mitochondrial membrane instability, cytosolic cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that DJS has neuroprotective effects in DA neurons against 6-OHDA-induced toxicity through anti-oxidant and anti-mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Gynecology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Deok-Sang
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyo Geun
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ha-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jung-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chang-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Moo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun-Bock
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Yong-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Sub
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016627:Oxidopamine; D045304:Cytochromes c; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D005978:Glutathione; D004298:Dopamine