ABSTRACT
Many major neurodegenerative diseases are associated with proteins misfolding and aggregation, which are also called "neurodegenerative conformational disease". The interaction of gene mutation and environmental factors are probably primary events resulting in oligomer and aggregate formations of proteins. Moreover, the dysfunctions of protein control systems, i.e. the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy-lysosomal system, also contribute to the neurodegenerative process. The present review mainly summarizes protein misfolding and aggregation in the development of neurodegenerative conformational disease and the underling mechanisms, as well as upregulation of heatshock proteins as a promising treatment method for this kind of disease.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Alzheimer Disease , Drug Therapy , Genetics , Metabolism , Pathology , Annona , Chemistry , Autophagy , Benzeneacetamides , Therapeutic Uses , Heat-Shock Proteins , Metabolism , Physiology , Mutation , Neurodegenerative Diseases , Drug Therapy , Genetics , Metabolism , Pathology , Parkinson Disease , Drug Therapy , Genetics , Metabolism , Pathology , Phenols , Therapeutic Uses , Plants, Medicinal , Chemistry , Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex , Metabolism , Protein Folding , Ubiquitin , MetabolismABSTRACT
The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect and mechanism of Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum extract (CE) on scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits. Learning and memory deficits of mice were evaluated by step-down passive avoidance test. Long-term potentiation of rats was detected in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus. Brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities were also determined. The results showed that scopolamine impaired learning and memory performance and LTP induction in hippocampus. Oral administration of CE (5, 10, and 20 mg x kg(-1)) significantly alleviated scopolamine-induced memory deficits measured by step-down test (P < 0.05). CE (5 mg x kg(-1), ip) significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of scopolamine on LTP in rats. In addition, CE was found to increase the activity of ChAT in rat brain. These results suggested that CE could alleviate scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits, which might be due to the LTP-improvement and ChAT activity enhancement.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Mice , Rats , Acetylcholinesterase , Metabolism , Brain , Choline O-Acetyltransferase , Metabolism , Dentate Gyrus , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Glucosides , Pharmacology , Hippocampus , Learning , Long-Term Potentiation , Memory Disorders , Orchidaceae , Chemistry , Plants, Medicinal , Chemistry , Random Allocation , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Scopolamine , Succinates , PharmacologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the xanthones from Tibetan medicine Halenia elliptica and their antioxidant activity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Column chromatography over normal phase silica gel, reversed phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and recrystallization techniques were used to isolate and purify constituents from Halenia elliptica. Infrared spectrometry, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry were used to identify the structure of compounds. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the content of malondialdehyde product in mice liver cell microsomal induced by ferrous-cysteine.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight xanthones (compound I-VIII) were isolated and identified from the ethyl acetate extract of Halenia elliptica, among which 1,7-dihydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthone was a novel compound. Compound I, III at 10 microg/ml and 100 microg/ml could inhibit the production of malondialdehyde in mouse liver microsomes in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Eight xanthones were isolated and they have certain antioxidant activity.</p>
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Gentianaceae , Chemistry , Glycosides , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Chemistry , Xanthenes , Pharmacology , Xanthones , Chemistry , PharmacologyABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Oxidative modulation of serum LDL is related to oxygen free radicals. Antioxidants have beneficial effects on oxidative modulation of LDL and development of atherosclerosis. Salvia miltriorhiza (Danshen) preparations have been widely used in the treatment of cardio-cerebral vascular diseases in China. Salvianolic acid A (Sal-A), one of the components of Salvia miltriorhiza, was shown to have strong antioxidative activity. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of Sal-A on human LDL oxidative modulation mediated by copper ions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Oxidation of human LDL was performed in pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered saline with 10 mumol.L-1 CuSO4 at 37 degrees C water for 20 h. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), lipofuscin and vitamin E in LDL as well as the rate of electrophoretic mobility (REM) of LDL were measured. The generation of free radicals during LDL oxidation was detected by low level-chemiluminescence (LL-CL). The chelation of Cu2+ by Sal-A was detected by UV-spectrum scanning.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sal-A (10(-6) to 10(-4) mol.L-1) was shown to markedly reduce the production of MDA and lipofuscin as well as the consumption of vitamin E during LDL oxidation. Sal-A (10(-4) mol.L-1) was also shown to inhibit the increase of REM of LDL caused by oxidative modification. In addition, the spectrum of LL-CL showed that Sal-A (10(-6) to 10(-5) mol.L-1) decreased the generation of free radicals during LDL oxidation in a dose dependent manner. The differential UV-spectrum of Sal-A in the presence of Cu2+ indicated that Sal-A could chelate copper ions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sal-A has inhibitory effect on Cu2+ mediated human LDL oxidation through chelating Cu2+ and scavenging free radicals.</p>