Isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus protect PC12 cells from toxicity induced by l-glutamate

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 98; no. 1; pp. 89 - 94
• Main Authors: Yu, Dehong, Duan, Yanlong, Bao, Yongming, Wei, Chaoliang, An, Lijia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 08.04.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; antioxidant activity; Astragalus; Astragalus mongholicus; Astragalus Plant - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biphenyl Compounds - pharmacology; cell lines; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - physiology; Chinese traditional medicine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ethanol; Formazans - pharmacology; Free Radical Scavengers - chemistry; Free Radical Scavengers - isolation & purification; Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology; General pharmacology; Glutamate; glutamates; Glutamic Acid - adverse effects; Glutamic Acid - metabolism; Glutathione - drug effects; Glutathione - physiology; Glutathione Peroxidase - drug effects; Glutathione Peroxidase - physiology; Huangqi; Hydrazines - pharmacology; Isoflavones - chemistry; Isoflavones - isolation & purification; Isoflavones - pharmacology; Isoflavonoids; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - antagonists & inhibitors; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - drug effects; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; neurons; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Neuroprotection; neuroprotective effect; PC12; PC12 Cells; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Picrates; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Roots - chemistry; Rats; roots; Superoxide Dismutase - drug effects; Superoxide Dismutase - physiology; Tetrazolium Salts - pharmacology; traditional medicine; Astragalus mongholicus; Neuroprotection; PC12; Isoflavonoids; Glutamate; Pharmacognosy; Toxicity; Flavonoid; In vitro; Isoflavone derivatives; Medicinal plant; Prevention; Polyphenol; Plant origin; Excitatory aminoacid; Neurotransmitter; Phenols
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.12.027

lsoflavonoids, formononetin, 9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan 3- O-β- d-glucoside, ononin, calycosin 7- O-glc and calycosin, were isolated from the roots of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Leguminosae). The neuroprotective roles and direct antioxidant effects of these isoflavonoids were investigated by using PC12 cell model and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Formononetin, ononin and calycosin were found inhibiting glutamate-induced cell injury, with an estimated 50% effective concentration (EC 50) of 0.027 μg/ml, 0.047 μg/ml and 0.031 μg/ml, respectively. Pretreatment with them increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and prevented the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in glutamate-injured PC12 cells. On the other hand, calycosin 7- O-glc and calycosin showed more scavenging activity to DPPH radicals than formononetin in the cell-free system. The inconsistency between the neuroprotective capabilities of isoflavonoids and their directly scavenging activity to DPPH radicals indicated that formononetin, ononin and calycosin probably depended on increasing endogenous antioxidant and stabilizing the cells’ membrane structures to inhibit the cell damage induced by glutamate.