Neuroprotective effects of Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts on mitochondrial dysfunction induced by 3-nitropropionic acid

作者：Im A Rang; Chae Sung Wook; Zhang Gui Jun; Lee Mi Young^*

来源：BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014, 14(1): 370.

DOI：10.1186/1472-6882-14-370

• Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed
• 3-nitropropionic acid
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Cellular bioenergetics

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in neuronal apoptosis associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease (HD). Animals that are administered 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a mitochondrial toxin that specifically inhibits complex II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, manifest HD-like symptoms.
Methods: Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts against 3-NP induced mitochondrial dysfunction in cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, which are used for neurobiological studies.
Results: In this study showed that 3-NP-treated PC12 cells had decreased ATP levels, lower cellular oxygen consumption, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential than those of untreated PC12 cells. Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts stimulated mitochondrial respiration with uncoupling and induced an increased bioenergetic reserve capacity. Furthermore, PC12 cells pretreated with P. corylifolia Linn seed extracts significantly attenuated 3-NP-induced cell death, reduced ATP levels, and lowered the mitochondrial membrane potential.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that P. corylifolia Linn seed extracts have a significant protective effect against 3-NP induced cytotoxicity. Thus, our results indicate that P. corylifolia Linn seed extracts may have potential applications as therapeutic agents for treating neurodegenerative disease.

• 出版日期2014-10-3
• 单位北京中医药大学