title: Acorus gramineus inhibits microglia mediated neuroinflammation and prevents neurotoxicity in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acorus gramineus Solander (Acoraceae, AG), is a widely distributed plant in Asian countries. Rhizome part of this plant has long been used as a traditional medicine for treating various symptoms including central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The anti-neuroinflammatory effect of AG aqueous extract was investigated using in vitro cellular and in vivo Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is used to stimulate BV-2 microglial cells in vitro and the changes in neuroinflammatory expressional levels were measured using ELISA, Western blotting, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence techniques. In in vivo experiments, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-intoxicated mouse model of PD was developed followed by immunohistochemical analysis of specific brain tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LPS-stimulation to BV-2 cells increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β. Pretreatment with AG extract inhibited the increased levels of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. Mechanistic study revealed that AG acts via the regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways. Further, AG protected MPTP-induced neuronal cell death and inhibited neuroinflammation in vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that AG extract exerted anti-neuroinflammatory effects against activated microglia mediated insults through multiple signaling pathways and prevented in vivo neuronal cell death in mouse model of PD substantiating the traditional claims for its use in CNS disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical & Health Science, Reaearch Institute of Inflammatory Diseases, Konkuk University, Chungju 380-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jae-Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myong-Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Na-Hyun
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sushruta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppula
authors.forename: Pyo-Jam
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Kug
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong-Kook
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ick-Hee
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Bong
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kwang-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D029023:Acorus; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027343:Rhizome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases