• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2006

In previous our studies, we have reported that eugenol derived from Eugenia caryophyllata(Myrtaceace) exhibits acute N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)- and oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical cultures and protects hippocampal neurons from global ischemia. In this study, we investigated whether the extracts and fractions of E. caryophyllata or eugenol shows the neuroprotective effects against delayed neuronal injury evoked by NMDA or ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole propionate(AMPA), and oxidative damage induced by arachidonic acid-, hydrogen peroxide-, $FeCl_2$/ascorbic acid-, and buthionine sulfoximine(BSO) in primary cortical cultures. We examined the neurotoxicity of eugenol itself in cultures and inhibitory effect of eugenol on NMDA- or kainate(KA)-induced convulsion in BALB/c mice. Each water, methanol extract and methanol fraction of E. caryophyllata was significantly attenuated NMDA-induced delayed neurotoxicity, respectively. Eugenol exhibited a significant inhibitory action against the convulsion evoked by NMDA and KA, and reduced delayed or brief neurotoxicity induced by NMDA, AMPA, and various oxidative injuries. These results suggest that eugenol derived from E. caryophyllata may contribute the neuroprotection against delayed-type excitotoxicity and excitotoxins-mediated convulsion through the amelioration of oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Sohaphyang-won (SH) on the alteration in gene expression in a hypoxia model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E18 rat cortical cells were grown in neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement. On 12 DIV, SH was added ($20\mu\textrm{g}/ml$) to the culture media for 24 hrs. On 14 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic insult (2% O2/5% CO2, $37^{\circ}C$, 3 hrs), returned to normoxia and cultured for another 24 hrs. Total RNA was prepared from SH-untreated (control) and -treated cultures and alteration in gene expression was analyzed by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : Effects on some of the genes whose functions are implicated in neural viability are as follows: 1) For most of the genes altered in expression, the global M values were between -05 to +0.5, Among these, 1517 genes were increased in their expression by more than global M +0.1, while 1480 genes were decreased by more than global M -0.1. 2) The expression of apoptosis-related genes such as Bad (global M =0.35), tumor protein p53 (T53) (global M =0.28) were increased, while v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (Akt1) was decreased. 3) The expression of hemoglobin alpha 1 (probably neuroglobin) was increased by about 3.2-fold (global M =1.7). 4) The expression of antioxidation-related catalase gene was increased (global M =0.26). 5) The expression of PKCzeta (prkcz), an upstream kinase of MAPK, was increased (global M =0.29). 6) The expression of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR), which may regulate transcription in hypoxic stress, was increased (global M =10.27). Conclusions : In summary, the microarray data suggest that SH doesn't increase the expression of oxygen capture-, anti-oxidation- and 'response to stress' -related genes but decreases some anti-apoptosis genes which would help protect the hypoxic cells from apoptosis.