title: Neuroprotective Effects of a Standardized Flavonoid Extract from Safflower against a Rotenone-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra par compacta (SNpc). Rotenone is a neurotoxin that is routinely used to model PD to aid in understanding the mechanisms of neuronal death. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius. L.) has long been used to treat cerebrovascular diseases in China. This plant contains flavonoids, which have been reported to be effective in models of neurodegenerative disease. We previously reported that kaempferol derivatives from safflower could bind DJ-1, a protein associated with PD, and that a flavonoid extract from safflower exhibited neuroprotective effects in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced mouse model of PD. In this study, a standardized safflower flavonoid extract (SAFE) was isolated from safflower and found to primarily contain flavonoids. The aim of the current study was to confirm the neuroprotective effects of SAFE in rotenone-induced Parkinson rats. The results showed that SAFE treatment increased body weight and improved rearing behavior and grip strength. SAFE (35 or 70 mg/kg/day) treatment reversed the decreased protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine transporter and DJ-1 and increased the levels of dopamine and its metabolite. In contrast, acetylcholine levels were decreased. SAFE treatment also led to partial inhibition of PD-associated changes in extracellular space diffusion parameters. These changes were detected using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracer-based method, which provides novel information regarding neuronal loss and astrocyte activation. Thus, our results indicate that SAFE represents a potential therapeutic herbal treatment for PD.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. nuramatjan817@bjmu.edu.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. nuramatjan817@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Nuramatjan
authors: N
authors: Ablat
authors: Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing100191, China. ldy9408@sohu.com.|Department of Radiology, Dongying People's Hospital of Shandong, Dongying 257091, China. ldy9408@sohu.com.
authors: Deyong
authors: D
authors: Lv
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. rrt874609@163.com.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. rrt874609@163.com.
authors: Rutong
authors: R
authors: Ren
authors: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. Elshat.shevket@gmail.com.|Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100191, China. Elshat.shevket@gmail.com.
authors: Yilixiati
authors: Y
authors: Xiaokaiti
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. maxiang19910215@163.com.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. maxiang19910215@163.com.
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. guoguo2891@126.com.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. guoguo2891@126.com.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. sunyi@bjmu.edu.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. sunyi@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. leihui2006sdu@sina.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. leihui2006sdu@sina.cn.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Lei
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. zeroby@126.com.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. zeroby@126.com.
authors: Jiamin
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. mayingcong123@163.com.
authors: Yingcong
authors: Y
authors: Ma
authors: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. qixr@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Xianrong
authors: X
authors: Qi
authors: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. yemin@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Ye
authors: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. xufeng_pharm@163.com.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Radiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing100191, China. hanhongbin@bjmu.edu.cn.|Beijing Key Lab of MRI Device and Technique, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China. hanhongbin@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Hongbin
authors: H
authors: Han
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. pxp123@bjmu.edu.cn.|State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. pxp123@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Xiaoping
authors: X
authors: Pu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000592:standards; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000592:standards; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000592:standards; D051381:Rats; D012402:Rotenone / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012402:Rotenone
keywords: DA; MRI; Parkinson’s disease; safflower flavonoid extract