Asiaticoside: attenuation of neurotoxicity induced by MPTP in a rat model of Parkinsonism via maintaining redox balance and up-regulating the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of asiaticoside, a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Centella asiatica, in the rats model of Parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Rats were first injected with MPTP. One day after surgery, asiaticoside was administered and the behavioral tests were assessed. On 14th day, the rats were sacrificed, substantia nigra (SN) and striatum were dissected, and then dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in striatum and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) contents, reduced glutathione (GSH) level and gene expression level in SN were estimated. Treatment with asiaticoside was found to protect dopaminergic neuron by antagonizing MPTP induced neurotoxicity and to improve locomotor dysfunction. Asiaticoside significantly attenuated the MPTP-induced reduction of dopamine in the striatum. The content of MDA was significantly decreased while the GSH level was significantly increased in asiaticoside-treated groups. In addition, asiaticoside increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. These results indicated that asiaticoside was effective in reversing MPTP induced Parkinsonism via its neuroprotective effects including antioxidant activity, maintaining the metabolic balance of DA, and increasing ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

• Authors: Chang-Liang Xu, Qi-Zhi Wang, Ling-Mei Sun, Xiu-Min Li, Ji-Min Deng, Lu-Fan Li, Jin Zhang, Rong Xu, Shi-Ping Ma
• Journal: Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior (Pharmacol Biochem Behav) Vol. 100 Issue 3 Pg. 413-8 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 1873-5177 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22001429 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Bax protein, rat
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• RNA, Messenger
• Triterpenes
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein
• 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
• Glutathione
• asiaticoside

Topics

• 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
• Animals
• Antioxidants (therapeutic use)
• Corpus Striatum (drug effects, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dopaminergic Neurons (drug effects, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Male
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Neuroprotective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Oxidation-Reduction
• Parkinsonian Disorders (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Substantia Nigra (drug effects, metabolism)
• Triterpenes (therapeutic use)
• bcl-2-Associated X Protein (genetics, metabolism)