title: Zonarol, a sesquiterpene from the brown algae Dictyopteris undulata, provides neuroprotection by activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway.
abstract: Seaweed-origin electrophilic compounds are proposed as a class of neuroprotective compounds that provide neuroprotection through activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Electrophilic hydroquinones are of particular interest due to their ability to become electrophilic quinones upon auto-oxidation. Although many marine plants produce a variety of electrophilic compounds, the detailed mechanism of action of these compounds remain unknown. Here, we focused on the neuroprotective effects of zonarol (ZO), a para-hydroquinone-type pro-electrophilic compound from the brown algae Dictyopteris undulata. We show that ZO activates the Nrf2/ARE pathway, induces phase-2 enzymes, and protects neuronal cells from oxidative stress. ZO is the first example of a neuroprotective pro-electrophilic compound obtained from brown algae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate 020-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Science, Tokyo University of Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Sohsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Sanford-Burnham Neuroscience and Aging Research Center, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lipton
authors.affiliation: Department of Anti-Aging Food Research, School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Technology, Hachioji 192-0982, Japan. Electronic address: satotkm@stf.teu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C495636:Nfe2l2 protein, mouse; D012717:Sesquiterpenes
keywords: ARE; Nrf2; Para-hydroquinone; Pro-electrophilic drugs; Zonarol