title: Neuroprotective effect of 1-methoxyoctadecan-1-ol from Uncaria sinensis on glutamate-induced hippocampal neuronal cell death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We isolated a single compound, 1-methoxyoctadecan-1-ol (MOD), from dried hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis, which is used in traditional Korean medicine to provide relief from various nervous related symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuroprotective effects of MOD against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells were investigated by analyzing cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Western blot assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure to glutamate alone resulted in remarkable hippocampal neuronal cell death; however, pretreatment with MOD resulted in suppression of neuronal death and ROS accumulation in connection with cellular Ca2+ level after exposure to glutamate. Stimulation by glutamate also caused significant protein level of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and dephosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), however, pretreatment with MOD resulted in inhibition of these changes in protein level. Treatment with glutamate alone led to suppressed protein level of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (CREB); however, pretreatment with MOD resulted in significant enhancement of this level of protein. Anti-oxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine and both Ca2+ inhibitors, BAPTA and EGTA, showed effects similar to those of MOD in all proteins examined, except mature BDNF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that MOD mainly exerted neuroprotective effects in suppression of ROS accumulation and up-regulation of mature BDNF in association with p38 MAPK and PI3K signaling in hippocampal neuronal cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ha Neui
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticultural Bioscience, College of Natural Resource and Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 626-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Whan
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea; Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 626-870, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: choibt@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byung Tae
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D032070:Uncaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000591151:1-methoxyoctadecan-1-ol; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D058539:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: 1-methoxyoctadecan-1-ol; Hippocampal cell; Oxidative stress; Protein kinases; Uncaria sinensis