Pu-Erh tea and GABA attenuates oxidative stress in kainic acid-induced status epilepticus.
BACKGROUND
Pu-Erh tea is one of the most-consumed beverages due to its taste and the anti-anxiety-producing effect of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) if contains. However the protective effects of Pu-Erh tea and its constituent, GABA to kainic acid (KA)-induced seizure have not been fully investigated.


METHODS
We analyzed the effect of Pu-Erh tea leaf (PETL) and GABA on KA-induced neuronal injury in vivo and in vitro.


RESULTS
PETL and GABA reduced the maximal seizure classes, predominant behavioral seizure patterns, and lipid peroxidation in male FVB mice with status epilepticus. PETL extracts and GABA were effective in protecting KA-treated PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner and they decreased Ca(2+) release, ROS production and lipid peroxidation from KA-stressed PC12 cells. Western blot results revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), RhoA and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were increased in PC12 cells under KA stress, and PETL and GABA significantly reduced COX-2 and p38 MAPK expression, but not that of RhoA. Furthermore, PETL and GABA reduced PGE(2) production from KA-induced PC12 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, PETL and GABA have neuroprotective effects against excitotoxins that may have clinical applications in epilepsy.
Department of Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. rolis.hou@mail.ypu.edu.tw
Chien-Wei
CW
Hou
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D007608:Kainic Acid; D002118:Calcium