title: Pro-neurogenic effect of β-asarone on RSC96 Schwann cells in vitro.
abstract: Nerve regeneration is a challenge for the therapy of peripheral nerve injury. β-Asarone, a major compound extracted from Acorus tatarinowii Schott rhizome, has been traditionally used in China and other parts of Asia for the treatment of common psychiatric diseases. It has been reported to have significant pharmacological effects on the central nervous system. This suggested that β-asarone may be a promising anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective agent to relieve destruction and accelerate proliferation of Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury. In this study, we investigated the effects of β-asarone on RSC96 Schwann cells, a spontaneously immortalized rat Schwann cell line in vitro. RSC96 cells were treated with a range of β-asarone concentrations (0-90 μM) for 2, 4, and 6 days. Results showed that β-asarone at concentrations down to 22.5 μM were not cytotoxic to RSC96 cells (p < 0.05). Concentrations of 5-20 μM β-asarone induced a net increase in cell proliferation (reflected in total DNA) compared to basal medium controls (p < 0.05). β-Asarone could promote expression of GDNF, BDNF, and CNTF genes (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the viability assay, hematoxylin-eosin, and immunohistochemical staining also showed better performances in β-asarone groups. As to the doses, 10 μM β-asarone showed the best performance. The results indicate that β-asarone can accelerate proliferation of RSC96 cells in vitro and meanwhile maintain the phenotype, which may provide valuable references for further exploration on peripheral nerve diseases.
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.|The Medical and Scientific Research Center, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Fuben
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology & Genetics, School of Premedical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Huayu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.|Department of Orthopaedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.|Department of Orthopaedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Peizhen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: The Medical and Scientific Research Center, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. zhengli224@163.com.|Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. zhengli224@163.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. zhaojinmin@126.com.|The Medical and Scientific Research Center, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. zhaojinmin@126.com.|Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. zhaojinmin@126.com.|Department of Orthopaedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. zhaojinmin@126.com.
authors.forename: Jinmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C012195:asarone
keywords: Neuroprotective; Peripheral nerve; RSC96 Schwann cells; β-Asarone