title: Tenuigenin protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-mediated damage induced by the lipopolysaccharide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study if tenuigenin (TEN), the main active component of Polygala tenuifolia, can protect dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-mediated damage in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  We observed the effects of TEN on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced PD model by behavioral analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, etc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We showed that a single intranigral dose of LPSs (10 μg) induced microglial activation, reduced the survival ratio of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-ir) neurons in the SNpc and reduced dopamine (DA) content in the striatum. Treatment with 300 mg/kg TEN once per day over 14 weeks improved the survival rate of TH-ir neurons in the SNpc to 75%, on the non-injected side. Treatment with 200 or 300 mg/kg TEN once per day over 14 weeks significantly improved DA levels in the striatum to 73% and 81% on the non-injected side, respectively. The excessive production of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β, was abolished by TEN administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that TEN may play a role in protecting dopaminergic neurons against inflammatory challenge.
authors: Department of Physiology, Key laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: Hui-Li
authors: HL
authors: Yuan
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: Xiao-Min
authors: XM
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C493220:tenuigenin