title: Neuroprotective effects of cuscutae semen in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic (DA) pathway. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes damage to the DA neurons, and 1-4-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) causes cell death in differentiated PC12 cells that is similar to the degeneration that occurs in PD. Moreover, MPTP treatment increases the activity of the brain's immune cells, reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) generating processes, and glutathione peroxidase. We recently reported that Cuscutae Semen (CS), a widely used traditional herbal medicine, increases cell viability in a yeast model of PD. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effect of CS on the neurotoxicity of MPTP in mice and on the MPP+-induced cell death in differentiated PC12 cells. The MPTP-induced loss of nigral DA neurons was partly inhibited by CS-mediated decreases in ROS generation. The activation of microglia was slightly inhibited by CS, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. Furthermore, CS may reduce the MPP+ toxicity in PC12 cells by suppressing glutathione peroxidase activation. These results suggest that CS may be beneficial for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minsook
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seul Gi
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Seob
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heera
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Kwang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Pyo
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, No. 1, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemungu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae