HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Prevention of inflammation-mediated neurotoxicity by butylidenephthalide and its role in microglial activation.

Abstract
Microglial cells are the prime effectors in immune and inflammatory responses of the central nervous system (CNS). During pathological conditions, the activation of these cells helps restore CNS homeostasis. However, chronic microglial activation endangers neuronal survival through the release of various proinflammatory molecules and neurotoxins. Thus, negative regulators of microglial activation have been considered as potential therapeutic candidates to target neurodegeneration, such as that in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Ligusticum wallichii Franch) has been widely used for the treatment of vascular diseases in traditional oriental medicine. Butylidenephthalide (BP), a major bioactive component from L. chuanxiong, has been reported to have a variety of pharmacological activities, including vasorelaxant, anti-anginal, anti-platelet and anti-cancer effects. The aim of this study was to examine whether BP represses microglial activation. In rat brain microglia, BP significantly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. In organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, BP clearly blocked the effect of LPS on hippocampal cell death and inhibited LPS-induced NO production in culture medium. These results newly suggest that BP provide neuroprotection by reducing the release of various proinflammatory molecules from activated microglia.
AuthorsKyong Nyon Nam, Kyoo-Pil Kim, Ki-Ho Cho, Woo-Sang Jung, Jung-Mi Park, Seung-Yeon Cho, Su-Kyung Park, Tae-Hoon Park, Young-Suk Kim, Eunjoo H Lee
JournalCell biochemistry and function (Cell Biochem Funct) Vol. 31 Issue 8 Pg. 707-12 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 1099-0844 [Electronic] England
PMID23400915 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
CopyrightCopyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical References
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Phthalic Anhydrides
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • butylidenephthalide
Topics
  • Animals
  • Brain (cytology, drug effects, pathology)
  • Cell Death (drug effects)
  • Cell Survival (drug effects)
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Hippocampus (drug effects, pathology)
  • Inflammation (pathology, prevention & control)
  • Interleukin-1beta (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
  • Lipopolysaccharides (antagonists & inhibitors, pharmacology)
  • Microglia (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
  • Neurons (cytology, drug effects, pathology)
  • Neuroprotective Agents (pharmacology)
  • Nitric Oxide (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
  • Phthalic Anhydrides (pharmacology)
  • Rats
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: