title: Huperzine induces alteration in oxidative balance and antioxidants in a guinea pig model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder. Symptomatic treatment is available by inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) such as rivastigmine, galantamine and donepezil. As huperzine is a promising compound for AD treatment, our study was aimed at evaluating its pertinent implications in oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory guinea pigs were exposed to huperzine A at doses of 0, 5, 25, 125 and 625 µg/kg. The animals were observed for cognitive disorders and sacrificed one hour after exposure. Tonic-clonic seizures were noticed, but only in highly dosed animals. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase were assessed in frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, the cerebellum, liver, spleen and kidney.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only minimal changes in enzymatic markers were recognized. Huperzine was not implicated in oxidative stress enhancement as the TBARS values remained quite stable. Surprisingly, antioxidants accumulated in the examined brain compartments as the FRAP value was significantly elevated following all doses of huperzine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We discuss the potency of huperzine in enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the central nervous system. Huperzine is probably implicated in more processes than cholinesterase inhibition only.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. miroslav.pohanka@gmail.com
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pohanka
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hrabinova
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zemek
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drtinova
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bandouchova
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pikula
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D038181:FMN Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D008954:Models, Biological; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; D038181:FMN Reductase; C023903:ferric citrate iron reductase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase