Abstract | ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese ( Kampo) medicine, is composed of seven medicinal herbs, and has been traditionally used to treat neurosis, insomnia, and night crying and irritability in children. Yokukansan and its constituent herbs, Glycyrrhiza and Uncaria Hook, have recently been shown to have protective effects against amyloid β (Aβ) oligomer-induced apoptosis by suppressing the activation of caspase-3 in primary cultured neurons. The aim of the present study was to identify the effective components of Glycyrrhiza and Uncaria Hook against Aβ oligomer-induced neurotoxicity. We also attempted to clarify the mechanisms by which yokukansan and these herbs, as well as their components, suppressed the activation of caspase-3 in Aβ oligomer-treated neurons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat primary cultured cortical neurons were treated with Aβ oligomer (3 μM). The protective effects of 16 components derived from Glycyrrhiza or Uncaria Hook against Aβ oligomer-induced neurotoxicity were determined using the MTT reduction assay 48 h after the treatment. The suppressive effects of the test substances, i.e., yokukansan, Glycyrrhiza, Uncaria Hook, and screened components, on the Aβ oligomer-induced activation of caspase-3(/7) were evaluated using the caspase-Glo assay 48 h after the Aβ oligomer treatment. The suppressive effects of the test substances on the activation of caspase-8 and -9, both of which are located upstream of caspase-3, were also examined 24h after the Aβ oligomer treatment. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Hitomi Kanno, Zenji Kawakami, Masahiro Tabuchi, Kazushige Mizoguchi, Yasushi Ikarashi, Yoshio Kase |
Journal | Journal of ethnopharmacology
(J Ethnopharmacol)
Vol. 159
Pg. 122-8
(Jan 15 2015)
ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland |
PMID | 25446602
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Amyloid beta-Peptides
- Biflavonoids
- Coumarins
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
- Neuroprotective Agents
- Proanthocyanidins
- Yi-Gan San
- glycycoumarin
- procyanidin B1
- Catechin
- Casp3 protein, rat
- Caspase 3
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Topics |
- Amyloid beta-Peptides
(pharmacology)
- Animals
- Biflavonoids
(pharmacology)
- Caspase 3
(metabolism)
- Catechin
(pharmacology)
- Cell Death
(drug effects)
- Cell Survival
(drug effects)
- Cells, Cultured
- Coumarins
(pharmacology)
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
- Medicine, East Asian Traditional
- Neurons
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Neuroprotective Agents
(pharmacology)
- Proanthocyanidins
(pharmacology)
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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