iridoids and Brain-Diseases

Catalpol is a effective components of rehmannia root, it have many pharmacological actions, such as anti-brain ischemia, anti-senile dementia, promoting neuro-remodeling and reducing capillary permeability and so on.

Topics: Animals; Brain Diseases; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Gene Expression; Glucosides; Humans; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Rehmannia

In this study, the neuroprotection of aucubin and its mechanism were evaluated in the rat model of diabetic encephalopathy. Diabetes mellitus (DM) rats were stratified by cognitive capability (CC), and assigned to four treatment groups for aucubin treatment (doses of 0, 1, 5 or 10 mg/kg aucubin), with a further two groups of non-DM rats ranked by CC as controls for aucubin (doses of 0 or 5 mg/kg aucubin). Neuroprotection was estimated by the indexes of behavior and histology. Behavioral testing was performed in a Y-maze. The surviving neurons in CA1-CA4 and subiculum (SC) of the hippocampus were counted under a microscope. In addition, the apoptotic neurons in the CA1 of the hippocampus were also examined by using TUNEL staining. In order to clarify the mechanism of aucubin's neuroprotection, the activities of endogenous antioxidants and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) together with the content of lipid peroxide in the hippocampus were assayed. The results proved that aucubin significantly reduced the content of lipid peroxide, regulated the activities of antioxidant enzymatic and decreased the activity of NOS. All these effects indicated that aucubin was a potential neuroprotective agent and its neuroprotective effects were achieved, at least in part, by promoting endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Brain Diseases; Cognition Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Glucosides; Hippocampus; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Lipid Peroxides; Male; Malondialdehyde; Neurons; Neuroprotective Agents; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Rats; Rats, Wistar

The oxidative stress-induced changes and feasibility of prevention of these changes with an aid of vitamines E and C were investigated in cultured brain cortex of the newborn albino rats. Modeling the oxidative stress was achieved with addition of H(2)O(2) into the nutrient medium. In order to prevent an oxidative stress-induced cytotoxic effect, concomittantly with H(2)O(2), vitamines E and C were added into the nutrient medium. The data, obtained in our study revealed inhibition of the glial cells'- and axonal migration into the growth zone resulting from the oxidative stress. These changes were attenuated following action of vitamines E and C, which points at feasibility of their use against oxidative impact from the free radicals emerging during neurodegenerative disorders.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Brain; Brain Diseases; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Glucosides; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Vitamin E