Protective effects of the key compounds isolated from Corni fructus against β-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells

Molecules. 2012 Sep 10;17(9):10831-45. doi: 10.3390/molecules170910831.

Abstract

β-Amyloid (Aβ) peptide is the major component of senile plaques and is considered to have a causal role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). There is compelling evidence supporting the notion that Aβ-induced cytotoxicity is mediated though the generation of ROS. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of ursolic acid (UA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), and gallic acid (GA) isolated from Corni fructus (CF) against Aβ(25-35)-induced toxicity in PC12 cell. Exposure of PC12 cells to 50 μM Aβ(25-35) increased cellular oxidative stress, the number of apoptotic cells and caspase-3 activity and finally caused significant cell death. However, UA, p-CA, and GA not only suppressed the generation of ROS but also attenuated DNA fragmentation and eventually attenuated Aβ-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In protecting cells against Aβ neurotoxicity, UA and GA possessed stronger ability against ROS generation than p-CA, while p-CA showed the strongest anti-apoptotic activity. Particularly, p-CA protected cells at the concentration range from 0.5 up to 125 μM without any adverse effect. Taken together, these effects of UA, p-CA, and GA may be partly associated with the neuroprotective effect of CF. Furthermore, our findings might raise a possibility of therapeutic applications of CF for preventing and/or treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cornus / chemistry*
  • Coumaric Acids / isolation & purification
  • Coumaric Acids / pharmacology*
  • DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
  • Gallic Acid / isolation & purification
  • Gallic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / isolation & purification
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • PC12 Cells
  • Peptide Fragments / toxicity*
  • Plaque, Amyloid / drug therapy
  • Propionates
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Ursolic Acid

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Antioxidants
  • Coumaric Acids
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Propionates
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Triterpenes
  • amyloid beta-protein (25-35)
  • Gallic Acid
  • Caspase 3
  • p-coumaric acid