Science Links Japan | Protective effect of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis against nitric oxide donor-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells.

Protective effect of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis against nitric oxide donor-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells.

Accession number;02A0339249

Title;Protective effect of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis against nitric oxide donor-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells.

Author; SHIMADA Y (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn) YOKOYAMA K (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn) GOTO H (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn) SAKAKIBARA I (Tsumura Central Res. Lab., Ibaraki, Jpn) SEKIYA N (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn) MANTANI N (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn) SAKAI S (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn) TERASAWA K (Toyama Medical And Pharmaceutical Univ., Toyama, Jpn)

Journal Title;Journal of Traditional Medicines

Journal Code:Y0941A

ISSN:1340-6302

VOL.19;NO.1;PAGE.15-20(2002)

Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.4, REF.28

Pub. Country;Japan

Language;English

Abstract;We have previously shown that an aqueous extract of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis (OLIV.) HAVIL., Uncariae Uncus Cum Ramulus, protects against glutamate-induced neuronal death in vitro. Nitric oxide(NO) free radicals are also implicated in the process of neuronal death. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Uncaria sinensis extract(USE) and its phenolic and alkaloid fractions against NO donors, sodium nitroprusside(SNP) and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), -induced neuronal death in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. MTT assay showed cell viability to be significantly increased by the addition of USE (10,30 and 100.MU.g/ml) compared with exposure (6,12 and 24h) to SNP (30.MU.M) only, and by the addition of USE (10 and 30.MU.g/ml) compared with exposure (6,12 and 24h) to SIN-1 (300.MU.M) only. Phenolic fraction of USE (10 and 30.MU.g/ml) significantly protected against SNP (30.MU.M, 24hr)-induced cell death, and 3 and 10.MU.g/ml of this fraction significantly protected against SIN-1 (300.MU.M, 24hr)-induced cell death. Alkaloid fraction of USE (30 and 100.MU.g/ml) significantly protected against SNP (30.MU.M, 24hr) and SIN-1 (30.MU.M, 24hr)-induced cell death. These results appear to indicate that Uncaria sinensis has a protective effect against NO-mediated neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells and that its active components are included in phenolic and alkaloid fractions. (author abst.)

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