title: Protective effect of isorhynchophylline against β-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells.
abstract: Beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ), a major protein component of senile plaques, has been considered as a critical cause in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Modulation of the Aβ-induced neurotoxicity has emerged as a possible therapeutic approach to ameliorate the onset and progression of AD. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of isorhynchophylline, an oxindole alkaloid isolated from a Chinese herb Uncaria rhynchophylla, on Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The results showed that pretreatment with isorhynchophylline significantly elevated cell viability, decreased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, increased the level of glutathione, and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential in Aβ(25-35)-treated PC12 cells. In addition, isorhynchophylline significantly suppressed the formation of DNA fragmentation and the activity of caspase-3 and moderated the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. These results indicate that isorhynchophylline exerts a neuroprotective effect against Aβ(25-35)-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, at least in part, via inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing the mitochondrial pathway of cellular apoptosis.
authors: School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yan-Fang
authors: YF
authors: Xian
authors: Zhi-Xiu
authors: ZX
authors: Lin
authors: Qing-Qiu
authors: QQ
authors: Mao
authors: Siu-Po
authors: SP
authors: Ip
authors: Zi-Ren
authors: ZR
authors: Su
authors: Xiao-Ping
authors: XP
authors: Lai
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000078183:Oxindoles; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000078183:Oxindoles; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); C052714:rhyncophylline