title: Withanolide A prevents neurodegeneration by modulating hippocampal glutathione biosynthesis during hypoxia.
abstract: Withania somnifera root extract has been used traditionally in ayurvedic system of medicine as a memory enhancer. Present study explores the ameliorative effect of withanolide A, a major component of withania root extract and its molecular mechanism against hypoxia induced memory impairment. Withanolide A was administered to male Sprague Dawley rats before a period of 21 days pre-exposure and during 07 days of exposure to a simulated altitude of 25,000 ft. Glutathione level and glutathione dependent free radicals scavenging enzyme system, ATP, NADPH level, γ-glutamylcysteinyl ligase (GCLC) activity and oxidative stress markers were assessed in the hippocampus. Expression of apoptotic marker caspase 3 in hippocampus was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Transcriptional alteration and expression of GCLC and Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were investigated by real time PCR and immunoblotting respectively. Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) level and impaired reduced gluatathione dependent free radical scavenging system in hippocampus resulting in elevated oxidative stress. Supplementation of withanolide A during hypoxic exposure increased GSH level, augmented GSH dependent free radicals scavenging system and decreased the number of caspase and hoescht positive cells in hippocampus. While withanolide A reversed hypoxia mediated neurodegeneration, administration of buthionine sulfoximine along with withanolide A blunted its neuroprotective effects. Exogenous administration of corticosterone suppressed Nrf2 and GCLC expression whereas inhibition of corticosterone synthesis upregulated Nrf2 as well as GCLC. Thus present study infers that withanolide A reduces neurodegeneration by restoring hypoxia induced glutathione depletion in hippocampus. Further, Withanolide A increases glutathione biosynthesis in neuronal cells by upregulating GCLC level through Nrf2 pathway in a corticosterone dependenet manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur, Chattishgarh, India; Department of Neurobiology, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organisation, Timarpur, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Iswar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baitharu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organisation, Timarpur, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organisation, Timarpur, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Satya Narayan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Deep
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Sambalpur University, Burla, India.
authors.forename: Sabita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shroff
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India.
authors.forename: Jayanta Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur, Chattishgarh, India.
authors.forename: Pradeep Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Hindustan University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Govindasamy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ilavazhagan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D054358:Withanolides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C433551:3-rhamnopyranosyl(1-4)-glucopyranosyl-12-diacetoxy-20-hydroxywitha-5,24-dienolide; D005609:Free Radicals; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C495637:Nfe2l2 protein, rat; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D054358:Withanolides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D053148:Caspase 3; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; C544143:GCLC protein, rat; D005978:Glutathione; D003345:Corticosterone