Neurotrophic activity of obovatol on the cultured embryonic rat neuronal cells by increase of neurotrophin release through activation of ERK pathway.

Abstract

Previously, we found that obovatol, a lignan compound isolated from Magnolia officinalis, has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic effects. Recent studies showed that honokiol, magnolol, and 4-O-methylhonokiol, lignin compounds isolated from the Magnolia family have neurotrophic activity. In this study, we examined whether or not obovatol also exhibits neurite-promoting effects on rat embryonic neuronal cells. Obovatol increased neurite outgrowth in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistent with the neurite outgrowth effect, the expression of neurite differentiation markers also increased in response to obovatol. We also found that obovatol increased levels of NGF and BDNF released into the culture medium. In addition, the combination of low concentrations of obovatol (1 and 2 μM) with NGF (50 ng/ml) or with BDNF (10 ng/ml) greatly enhanced neurite outgrowth. Subsequently, we found that obovatol increased phosphorylation of ERK. However, the neurite outgrowth, and NGF and BDNF release induced by obovatol were prevented by an ERK-specific inhibitor. These results suggest that obovatol promotes neurite outgrowth due to the increased release of neurotrophic factors via activation of the ERK pathway.

• Authors: Yong Kyoung Lee, Ju Kyoung Song, Im Seop Choi, Jae Hwang Jeong, Dong Cheul Moon, Yeo Pyo Yun, Sang Bae Han, Ki-Wan Oh, Jin Tae Hong
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 649 Issue 1-3 Pg. 168-76 (Dec 15 2010) ISSN: 1879-0712 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20868677 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Differentiation
• Biphenyl Compounds
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Nerve Growth Factors
• Phenyl Ethers
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• obovatol
• Nerve Growth Factor

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Differentiation (metabolism)
• Biphenyl Compounds (pharmacology)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cerebral Cortex
• Drug Discovery
• Embryo, Mammalian
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects)
• Nerve Growth Factor (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Nerve Growth Factors (metabolism)
• Neurites (drug effects, ultrastructure)
• Neurodegenerative Diseases (drug therapy)
• Neurogenesis (drug effects)
• Neurons (drug effects, metabolism, ultrastructure)
• Osmolar Concentration
• Phenyl Ethers (pharmacology)
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley