title: Neuroprotective effects of longan ( Dimocarpus longan Lour.) flower water extract on MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in rat brain.
abstract: In this study, the neuroprotective effect of  Dimocarpus longan  Lour. flower water extract (LFWE) was investigated. First, an in vitro study showed that LFWE concentration-dependently inhibited lipid peroxidation of brain homogenates incubated at 37 °C. The antioxidative activity of LFWE was more potent than that of glutathione or Trolox. Furthermore, an ex vivo study found that the basal lipid peroxidation (0 °C) and lipid peroxidation incubated at 37 °C were lower in the brain homogenates of LFWE-treated (500 mg/day) rats, indicating that the brain of LFWE-treated rats was more resistant to oxidative stress. Moreover, a Parkinsonian animal model was employed to demonstrate that oral administration of LFWE (125-500 mg/kg/day) dose-dependently attenuated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+))-induced neurotoxicity in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of rat brain. In conclusion, this study suggests that LFWE is antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic. Furthermore, oral administration of LFWE appears to be useful in preventing and/or treating central nervous system neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinsonism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. myalin@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Anya Maan-Yuh
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Liang-Yi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kai-Chih
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Hui-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yen Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Wen-Chien
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lucy Sun
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D029631:Sapindaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015655:1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium