title: Neuroprotective effects of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa: Insights from 6-OHDA induced cell damage and transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model.
abstract: Previous pharmacological studies have indicated that AC11 (a standardized aqueous extract of Uncaria tomentosa) has beneficial effects on DNA repair and immune function. However, its benefits go beyond this. The present study utilized electron spin resonance (ESR) and spin trapping technique, as well as the 6-OHDA-induced cell damage and transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models, towards exploring the antioxidant and neuroprotective ability of AC11. Our results showed that AC11 could scavenge several types of free radicals, especially hydroxyl radicals (60% of hydroxyl radicals were scavenged by 30 μg/ml of AC11). In SH-SY5Y cells, we found that AC11 could dose dependently protect 6-OHDA induced cell damage by increase cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential. AC11 pretreatment also significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation, intracellular reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in 6-OHDA treated cells. In NL5901 C. elegans, 10 μg/ml AC11 could reduce the aggregation of α-synuclein by 40%. These findings encourage further investigation on AC11 and its active constituent compounds, as possible therapeutic intervention against Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Molecular Neurobiology and Neuropharmacology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, China.
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhongbing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yashuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yueqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao-Wilson
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Xianglin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Yan-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Baolu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D020948:Cat's Claw / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D016627:Oxidopamine