EpimediumPolysaccharide Alleviates Polyglutamine-Induced Neurotoxicity inCaenorhabditis elegansby Reducing Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Epimedium has been traditionally used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including neurological disorders. In this study, an acidic polysaccharide EbPS-A1 is isolated from Epimedium brevicornum and found to contain mainly galacturonic acid, galactose, and rhamnose but also arabinose and glucuronic acid. Using Caenorhabditis elegans models, we show that EbPS-A1 is capable of inhibiting behavioral dysfunction mediated by polyglutamine (polyQ), which is implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease. Interestingly, EbPS-A1 does not inhibit polyQ aggregation or extend lifespan in the nematodes; it does, however, improve the survival under increased oxidative stress of both polyQ and wild-type nematodes intoxicated by paraquat. Further studies reveal that EbPS-A1 is capable of not only scavenging free radicals in vitro but also reducing reactive oxygen species levels, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreasing lipid peroxidation product in C. elegans models. Together, these results suggest that the protective effect of Epimedium polysaccharide against polyQ-mediated neurotoxicity is likely due to its antioxidant function.

Epimedium Polysaccharide Ameliorates Benzene‐Induced Aplastic Anemia in Mice

“…Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine its protective effects against ROS-mediated neurotoxicity by reducing ROS levels [23]. In this study, BZ significantly increased the ROS level and induces apoptosis in BMMNCs.…”

“…EPS is one of the active compounds of Chinese herbal medicine, Herba Epimedii, for treating cardiovascular diseases and improving sexual and neurological functions [19]. It has also shown efficacy in protecting against neurotoxicity via its antioxidative properties [23]. In this study, we investigated EPS by evaluating its effects on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and immunotoxicity induced by BZ in the BIAA mouse model.…”

“…e main constituents of EPS, such as flavonoids, have been shown to have the antioxidative ability and enhance the activity of the free radical scavenging enzyme in rat and chicken [19]. Pharmaceutical applications of EPS have been proposed based on its protective effects such as its antitumor activity and its ability to alleviate neurotoxicity [22,23]. However, the therapeutic effects of EPS on BZ-induced hematotoxicity and immunotoxicity remain unclear.…”

Hydrogen extends Caenorhabditis elegans longevity by reducing reactive oxygen species

“…For example, a number of approaches have been used to determine sensitivity to oxidative stress in C. elegans, including exposure to PQ, juglone, t-BOOH, arsenite, H 2 O 2 , or hyperbaric oxygen [11]. Therefore, PQ was used to induce an endogenous oxidative stress model in C. elegans in this paper [12]. In addition, there are known signaling pathways that affect aging, such as the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway, sirtuin family signaling pathways and the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway, which have been studied in various models, such as C. elegans, yeast, fruit flies, and mammals [13].…”

New Synthetic 3-Benzoyl-5-Hydroxy-2H-Chromen-2-One (LM-031) Inhibits Polyglutamine Aggregation and Promotes Neurite Outgrowth through Enhancement of CREB, NRF2, and Reduction of AMPKα in SCA17 Cell Models

“…Increased oxidative stress induced by mutant polyQ protein, which results in cell death in vitro [18,19] and in vivo [20,21], has been shown. Antioxidants can ameliorate the aggregation and cytotoxicity in models of polyQ diseases [22][23][24][25][26]. The major pathway responsive to oxidative stress to protect cells is the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and the antioxidant response elements (AREs) signaling [27].…”