Quercetin, kaempferol and biapigenin from Hypericum perforatum are neuroprotective against excitotoxic insults

In the present study we investigated the effects of phenolic compounds present in Hypericum perforatum against neuronal excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Quercetin, kaempferol and biapigenin significantly reduced neuronal death caused by 100 microM kainate plus 100 microM N-methyl-D-aspa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurotoxicity research 2008-05, Vol.13 (3-4), p.265
Main Authors: Silva, Bruno, Oliveira, Paulo J, Dias, Alberto, Malva, Joao O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Apigenin - chemistry
Apigenin - pharmacology
Biflavonoids - chemistry
Biflavonoids - pharmacology
Calcium - metabolism
Cell Survival - drug effects
Cells, Cultured
Drug Interactions
Embryo, Mammalian
Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists - toxicity
Hippocampus - cytology
Hypericum - chemistry
Kaempferols - chemistry
Kaempferols - pharmacology
Kainic Acid - toxicity
Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects
Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects
Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism
Mitochondria - drug effects
Mitochondria - metabolism
N-Methylaspartate - toxicity
Neurons - drug effects
Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology
Quercetin - chemistry
Quercetin - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism
Time Factors
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In the present study we investigated the effects of phenolic compounds present in Hypericum perforatum against neuronal excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Quercetin, kaempferol and biapigenin significantly reduced neuronal death caused by 100 microM kainate plus 100 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate. The observed neuroprotection was correlated with prevention of delayed calcium deregulation and with the maintenance of mitochondrial transmembrane electric potential. The three compounds were able to reduce mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and loss of mitochondrial transmembrane electric potential caused by oxidative stress induced by ADP plus iron. Moreover, biapigenin was also able to significantly affect mitochondrial bioenergetics and decrease the capacity of mitochondria to accumulate calcium. Taken together, the results suggest that the neuroprotective action induced by quercetin and kaempferol are mainly mediated by antioxidant effects, whereas biapigenin mainly affects mitochondrial bioenergetics and calcium uptake.
ISSN:1029-8428
DOI:10.1007/BF03033510