Cyperi rhizoma, the rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L. (Family Cyperaceae), is a well-known functional food and traditional herbal medicine in Korea. It has been reported that Cyperi rhizoma has antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities that play a major role in protection of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of a water extract of Cyperi rhizoma (CRE) against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neuronal damage were evaluated in an experimental model of PD. In PC12 cells, CRE showed a significant protective effect on cell viability at 50 and 100 microg/mL. CRE inhibited generation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and caspase-3 activity, which were induced by 6-OHDA. CRE also showed a significant protective effect against damage to dopaminergic neurons in primary mesencephalic culture. These results suggest that CRE has neuroprotective effects against 6-OHDA-induced toxicity through antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities in an in vitro PD model.
Cognitive impairment is a result of dementia of diverse causes, such as cholinergic dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Houttuynia cordata Thunb. (Saururaceae) has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. It has biological activities including protective effects against amyloid beta (Aβ) toxicity, via regulation of calcium homeostasis, in rat hippocampal cells. To extend previous reports, we investigated the effects of water extracts of H. cordata herb (HCW) on tauopathies, also involving calcium influx. We then confirmed the effects of HCW in improving memory impairment and neuronal damage in mice with Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. We also investigated the effects of HCW against scopolamine-induced cholinergic dysfunction in mice. In primary neuronal cells, HCW inhibited the phosphorylation of tau by regulating p25/p35 expression in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. In mice with Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, HCW improved cognitive impairment, as assessed with behavioral tasks, such as novel object recognition, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tasks. HCW also inhibited the degeneration of neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, HCW, which had an IC50 value of 79.7 μg/ml for acetylcholinesterase inhibition, ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment significantly in Y-maze and passive avoidance tasks. These results indicate that HCW improved cognitive impairment, due to cholinergic dysfunction, with inhibitory effects against tauopathies and cholinergic antagonists, suggesting that HCW may be an interesting candidate to investigate for the treatment of AD.
Clavulanic acid is a psychoactive compound with excellent blood-brain barrier permeability and safety profiles. Previous studies showed that clavulanic acid suppresses anxiety in rodents and in a primate model. In addition, clavulanic acid is thought to enhance sexual function in animal models via central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms. To further examine its potential as a CNSmodulating agent, we investigated the effects of clavulanic acid in neurotoxin-induced animal models that emulate neurodegenerative disease symptoms. Clavulanic acid was administered to rodents that were exposed to kainic acid or 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Using histochemical staining of brain sections, we demonstrated that clavulanic acid protects hippocampal and dopaminergic neurons from toxin-induced acute death. We also observed that clavulanic acid improves motor function in MPTP-treated mice in a behavioral test. These data indicate that clavulanic acid may have neuroprotective effects and warrants further investigation of its therapeutic use in CNS disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Drug Dev Res 71: 351-357, 2010.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.