• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.101-109
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• 2016

Reducing $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ to 0.1 mM can evoke repetitive $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes and seizure activity, which induces neuronal cell death in a process called excitotoxicity. We examined the issue of whether cultured rat hippocampal neurons preconditioned by a brief exposure to 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ are rendered resistant to excitotoxicity induced by a subsequent prolonged exposure and whether $Ca^{2+}$ spikes are involved in this process. Preconditioning by an exposure to 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ for 5 min inhibited significantly subsequent 24 h exposure-induced cell death 24 h later (tolerance). Such tolerance was prevented by both the NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5 and the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonist nimodipine, which blocked 0.1 mM $[Mg^{2+}]_o$-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. The AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX significantly inhibited both the tolerance and the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator BAPTA-AM significantly prevented the tolerance. The nonspecific PKC inhibitor staurosporin inhibited the tolerance without affecting the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. While $G{\ddot{o}}6976$, a specific inhibitor of $PKC{\alpha}$ had no effect on the tolerance, both the $PKC{\varepsilon}$ translocation inhibitor and the $PKC{\zeta}$ pseudosubstrate inhibitor significantly inhibited the tolerance without affecting the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spikes. Furthermore, JAK-2 inhibitor AG490, MAPK kinase inhibitor PD98059, and CaMKII inhibitor KN-62 inhibited the tolerance, but PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294,002 did not. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide significantly inhibited the tolerance. Collectively, these results suggest that low $[Mg^{2+}]_o$ preconditioning induced excitotoxic tolerance was directly or indirectly mediated through the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ spike-induced activation of $PKC{\varepsilon}$ and $PKC{\xi}$, JAK-2, MAPK kinase, CaMKII and the de novo synthesis of proteins.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.221-233
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• 2009

목 적 : 신장에서 분비되어 적혈구를 생산하는 빈혈제로 알려진 에리스로포이에틴(Erythropoietin, EPO)은 단순히 피를 만드는 조혈기능 뿐 아니라 최근 신경계 보호 및 신경강화 효과가 있다고 발표되고 있지만 주산기 가사로 인한 저산소성 허혈성 뇌병증의 치료제로서 그 기전이 명확하게 밝혀지지 않았다. 저자들은 유전자 재조합 인 에리스로포이에틴(recombinant Human EPO, rHuEPO)을 이용하여 주산기 저산소성 허혈성 뇌병증의 치료제로서 N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) 수용체와 관련된 흥분성 독성작용을 통한 조절 등 그 기전을 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 재태기간 19일된 태아 백서의 대뇌피질 세포를 배양하여 정상산소군은 5% $CO_2$ 배양기(95% air, 5% $CO_2$)에 두었고, 저산소군과 농도별 뇌손상 전 rHuEPO 투여군(1, 10, 100 IU/mL)은 1% $O_2$ 배양기(94% $N_2$, 5% $CO_2$)에서 6시간 동안 뇌세포손상을 유도하였다. 세포성장과 생존력을 평가하기 위해 MTT 실험을 시행하였다. 동물 모델에서는 생후 7일된 신생백서의 좌측 총 경동맥을 결찰한 후 6개 군; 정상산소군, sham-operated군, 저산소-허헐성군, 저산소-허헐성+vehicle군, 저산소-허헐성 손상 전 rHuEPO 투여군, 저산소-허헐성 손상 후 rHuEPO 투여군으로 나누었고, 저산소-허헐성 손상은 특별히 제작한 통속에서 2시간 동안 8% $O_2$ (8% $O_2$, 92% $N_2$)에 노출시켰다. rHuEPO은 뇌손상 전후 30분에 체중 kg당 1000 IU를 투여하였고, 저산소-허헐성 손상 후 7일째 조직을 실험하였다. 적출한 조직으로 H&E 염색을 하여 뇌손상을 형태학적으로 관찰하였다. 세포배양 및 동물실험에서 NMDA 수용체의 아단위인 NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2C, NR2D를 이용하여 실시간 중합효소연쇄반응을 실시하였다. 결 과 : 저산소군에서 세포 생존률은 정상산소군보다 60% 감소하였으며, rHuEPO 투여군(1, 10 IU/mL)은 80% 증가하였다. rHuEPO 투여군(100 IU/mL)은 회복되지 않았다. 우측 반구 대비 좌측 반구의 범위는 정상산소군 98.9%, sham-operated군 99.1%, 저산소-허헐성군 57.1%, 저산소-허헐성+vehicle군 57.0%, 저산소-허헐성 손상 전 rHuEPO 투여군 87.6%, 저산소-허헐성 손상 후 rHuEPO 투여군 91.6%으로 나타났다. NMDA 수용체의 아단위 생체외 실험에서 실시간 중합효소연쇄반응의 결과 NMDA 수용체 아단위 mRNA의 발현은 rHuEPO 투여군에서 저산소군보다 모두 증가하였다. 결 론 : 본 연구에서 rHuEPO은 흥분성 독성작용과 관련되어 NMDA 수용체를 조절하면서 저산소성 허헐성 뇌손상을 보호하는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.335-342
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• 2005

The effects of ginsenosides Rg$_3$(R) , Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ (a mixture of Rg$_5$ and Rk$_1$ 1:1, w/w), which are components isolated from processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), on memory dysfunction were examined in mice using a passive avoidance test. The ginsenosides Rg3(R), Rg3(S) or Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$, when orally administered for 4 days, significantly ameliorated the memory impairment induced by the single oral administration of ethanol. The memory impairment induced by the intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was also significantly recovered by ginsenosides Rg3(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$. Among the three ginsenosides tested in this study, Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ enhanced the memory function of mice most effectively in both the ethanol­and scopolamine-induced amnesia models. Moreover, the latency period of the Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$­treated mice was 1.2 times longer than that of the control (no amnesia) group in both models, implying that Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ may also exert beneficial effects in the normal brain. We also evaluated the effects of these ginsenosides on the excitotoxic and oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell damage in primary cultured rat cortical cells. The excitotoxicity induced by glutamate or N­methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was dramatically inhibited by the three ginsenosides. Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ exhibited a more potent inhibition of excitotoxicity than did Rg$_3$(R). In contrast, these ginsenosides were all ineffective against the H$_2$O$_2$- or xanthine/xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative neuronal damage. Taken together, these results indicate that ginsenosides Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ significantly reversed the memory dysfunction induced by ethanol or scopolamine, and their neuroprotective actions against excitotoxicity may be attributed to their memory enhancing effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.85-89
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• 2003

The basic mechanism for the excitation of the peripheral vestibular receptors following acute hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or hemorrhage was investigated in anesthetized rats. Electrical activity of the afferent vestibular nerve was measured after pretreatment with kynurenic acid, an NMDA receptor antagonist. The activity of the vestibular nerve at rest following acute hypotension induced by SNP or simulating hemorrhage was a greater increase than in control animals. The gain of the vestibular nerve with sinusoidal rotation following acute hypotension increased significantly compared to control animals. The acute hypotension induced by SNP or hemorrhage did not change the activity of the afferent vestibular nerve after kynurenic acid injection. These results suggest that acute hypotension produced excitation of the vestibular hair cells via glutamate excitotoxicity in response to ischemia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.594-602
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• 2009

목 적 : $TGF-{\beta}1$는 흥분독성을 억제시키고 질소 산화물 생성 억제를 통한 신경세포 보호 효과가 있다고 알려져 있지만 주산기저산소 허혈 뇌손상에서 그 기전은 아직도 확실히 밝혀져 있지 않고 있다. 따라서 이번 연구에서는 신생 백서의 저산소 허혈 뇌손상에서 산화질소로 인한 신경독성 및 글루탐산염에 의한 흥분독성과 $TGF-{\beta}1$의 관계를 보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 생체외 실험으로 재태 기간 19일된 태아 백서의 대뇌피질 세포를 배양하여 1% O2 배양기에서 저산소 상태로 뇌세포손상을 유도하여 저산소군(Hypoxia), 저산소 손상 30분 전 $TGF-{\beta}1$ (1, 5, 10 ng/mL) 투여군(H+$TGF-{\beta}1$)으로 나누어 정상 산소군 (Control)과 비교하였다. 생체 내 실험은 생후 7일된 백서의 좌측 총 경동맥을 결찰한 후 저산소 (7.5% O2) 상태로 2시간 노출시켜서, 저산소 허혈 뇌손상을 유발하였다. 아무런 처치도 하지 않은 정상 대조군(Control), 경동맥 노출 후 봉합 시술만 시행한 정상 Sham 수술군(Sham-OP), 손상 30분 전 생리식염수를 주입 후 경동맥 결찰과 저산소 노출을 시행한 저산소 허혈 대조군(HI+ Vehicle), 손상 30분 전 $TGF-{\beta}1$을 대뇌로 투여하고 경동맥 결찰과 저산소 노출을 시행한 저산소 허혈 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군(HI+$TGF-{\beta}1$)으로 나누어 비교분석하였다. 흥분독성과의 관련을 알아보기 위하여 NMDA 수용체 아단위를 이용하였고, 질소산화물과의 관련을 알아보기 위해 iNOS, eNOS 및 nNOS를 이용하여 western blotting과 실시간 중합효소연쇄반응을 하였다. 결 과 : 생체 외 실험에서 iNOS의 발현은 정상 산소군과 저산소군 간에 차이가 없었으며, $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서는 발현이 증가하였으며 이는 농도와는 상관성이 없었다. eNOS, nNOS의 발현은 1 ng/mL의 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 저산소군보다 감소하였다. 생체 내 실험에서는 iNOS와 iNOS mRNA의 발현은 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여한 후 저산소 대조군보다 증가하였다. eNOS와 nNOS 발현은 정상 대조군 보다 저산소 대조군에서 감소하였고, eNOS의 발현은 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 증가하였지만 nNOS의 발현은 증가하지 않아 통계적 유의성이 없었다. eNOS mRNA와 nNOS mRNA의 발현은 iNOS와 반대로 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 저산소 대조군보다 감소하였다. NMDA 수용체 아단위 mRNA의 발현은 정상 대조군과 Sham 수술군에 비해 저산소 대조군에서 모두 감소하였으나 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 투여군에서 NR2C를 제외한 나머지 아단위의 발현은 저산소 대조군보다 증가하였다. 결 론 : 신생백서의 저산소 허혈 뇌손상에서 $TGF-{\beta}1$ 치료군에서 저산소로 인하여 감소된 NMDA 수용체 아단위의 발현을 증가시켜 흥분독성 기전과 관련성을 보이며, 증가된 iNOS 발현을 감소시키고 감소된 eNOS 발현을 증가시키는 질소 산화물 중재를 통한 뇌 보호 작용에 연관이 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.246-253
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• 2010

Ginsenoside $Rg_3$ ($Rg_3$), one of the active ingredients in Panax ginseng, attenuates NMDA receptor-mediated currents in vitro and antagonizes NMDA receptors through a glycine modulatory site in rat cultured hippocampal neurons. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of $Rg_3$ on 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OH-chol)-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. The results showed that $Rg_3$ treatment significantly and dose-dependently inhibited 24-OH-chol-induced cell death in rat cultured cortical neurons, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $28.7{\pm}7.5\;{\mu}m$. Furthermore, the $Rg_3$ treatment not only significantly reduced DNA damage, but also dose-dependently attenuated 24-OH-chol-induced caspase-3 activity. To study the mechanisms underlying the in vitro neuroprotective effects of $Rg_3$ against 25-OH-chol-induced cytotoxicity, we also examined the effect of $Rg_3$ on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ elevations in cultured neurons and found that $Rg_3$ treatment dose-dependently inhibited increases in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $40.37{\pm}12.88\;{\mu}m$. Additionally, $Rg_3$ treatment dose-dependently inhibited apoptosis with an $IC_{50}$ of $47.3{\pm}14.2\;{\mu}m$. Finally, after confirming the protective effect of $Rg_3$ using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, we found that $Rg_3$ is an active component in ginseng-mediated neuroprotection. These results collectively indicate that $Rg_3$-induced neuroprotection against 24-OH-chol in rat cortical neurons might be achieved via inhibition of a 24-OH-chol-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ channel. This is the first report to employ cortical neurons to study the neuroprotective effects of $Rg_3$ against 24-OH-chol. In conclusion, $Rg_3$ was effective for protecting cells against 24-OH-chol-induced cytotoxicity in rat cortical neurons. This protective ability makes $Rg_3$ a promising agent in pathologies implicating neurodegeneration such as apoptosis or neuronal cell death.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제1권6호
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• pp.673-679
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• 1997

It has been generally accepted that glutamate mediates the ischemic brain damage, excitotoxicity, and induces release of neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine(NE), in ischemic milieu. In the present study, the role of nitric oxide(NO) in the ischemia-induced $[^3H]norepinephrine([^3H]NE)$ release from cortex slices of the rat was examined. Ischemia, deprivation of oxygen and glucose from $Mg^{2+}-free$ artificial cerebrospinal fluid, induced significant release of $[^3H]NE$ from cortex slices. This ischemia-induced $[^3H]NE$ release was significantly attenuated by glutamatergic neurotransmission modifiers. $N^G-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester(L-NAME), $N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine$ (L-NMMA) or 7-nitroindazole, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors attenuated the ischemia-evoked $[^3H]NE$ release. Hemoglobin, a NO chelator, and 5, 5- dimethyl-L-pyrroline-N-oxide(DMPO), an electron spin trap, inhibited $[^3H]NE$ release dose-dependently. Ischemia-evoked $[^3H]NE$ release was inhibited by methylene blue, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, and potentiated by 8-bromo-cGMP, a cell permeable cGMP analog, zaprinast, a cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide generator. These results suggest that the ischemia-evoked $[^3H]NE$ release is mediated by NMDA receptors, and activation of NO system is involved.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.199-207
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• 2003

신생아의 정상적인 발달을 저해하고 조기 사망의 주된 원인이 되고 있는 주산기 뇌손상에 관한 신경병리적 기전을 살펴보고자 하였다. 발달하고 있는 과정에서의 주산기 뇌손상은 주로 저산소성-허혈성 뇌손상과 출혈성 뇌손상에 의한 경우가 많다. 저산소성-허혈성 뇌손상과 관련하여 에너지 부전, 세포흥분독성, 미성숙 백질의 선택적 취약성을 고려해 볼 수 있다. 첫번째, 세포호흡에 관여하는 미토콘드리아의 손상과 관련하여 즉각적인 병리와 함께 지연된 양상의 손상을 보인다. 미토콘드리아의 호흡률이 감소하고 칼슘이온의 농도가 상승하여 세포 괴사 및 세포사멸 과정이 진행된다. 두번째, 흥분성 아미노산과 관련하여 미성숙한 뇌에는 NMDA 수용기-채널 복합체의 기능이 매우 풍부하고, phosphoinositide 가수분해가 높아서 흥분독성에 상당히 취약하다. 세 번째, 수초 형성에 중요한 역할을 하는 희돌기교세포가 주산기 뇌손상 특히, 저산소성-허혈성 손상에 취약하다. 희돌기교세포는 글루타메이트에 의한 자유유리기과 사이토카인 손상에 취약하다. 뇌출혈과 관련하여, 미성숙한 뇌는 뇌실 주위에 혈관층이 풍부하나 매우 약한 상태로 재관류 혹은 혈류의 증가로 인해 쉽게 파열된다. 특히 32주 이내인 경우 이러한 손상으로 인해 뇌실주위 백질연화증이 초래된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.16-26
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• 2007

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease catalyzing the proteolytic conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, which is involved in thrombolysis. During last two decades, the role of tPA in brain physiology and pathology has been extensively investigated. tPA is expressed in brain regions such as cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebellum, and major neural cell types such as neuron, astrocyte, microglia and endothelial cells express tPA in basal status. After strong neural stimulation such as seizure, tPA behaves as an immediate early gene increasing the expression level within an hour. Neural activity and/or postsynaptic stimulation increased the release of tPA from axonal terminal and presumably from dendritic compartment. Neuronal tPA regulates plastic changes in neuronal function and structure mediating key neurologic processes such as visual cortex plasticity, seizure spreading, cerebellar motor learning, long term potentiation and addictive or withdrawal behavior after morphine discontinuance. In addition to these physiological roles, tPA mediates excitotoxicity leading to the neurodegeneration in several pathological conditions including ischemic stroke. Increasing amount of evidence also suggest the role of tPA in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis even though beneficial effects was also reported in case of Alzheimer's disease based on the observation of tPA-induced degradation of $A{\beta}$ aggregates. Target proteins of tPA action include extracellular matrix protein laminin, proteoglycans and NMDA receptor. In addition, several receptors (or binding partners) for tPA has been reported such as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and annexin II, even though intracellular signaling mechanism underlying tPA action is not clear yet. Interestingly, the action of tPA comprises both proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanism. In case of microglial activation, tPA showed non-proteolytic cytokine-like function. The search for exact target proteins and receptor molecules for tPA along with the identification of the mechanism regulating tPA expression and release in the nervous system will enable us to better understand several key neurological processes like teaming and memory as well as to obtain therapeutic tools against neurodegenerative diseases.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2003년도 Annual Meeting of KSAP : International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences on Obesity
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• pp.63-63
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• 2003

Opuntia ficus-indicavar. saboten Makino (Cactaceae) is a tropical or subtropical plant that has been widely used as folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes, asthma, burn, edema and gastritis. The purposes of the present study were to identify antioxidant constituents from fruits and stems of the plant cultivated in Cheju island, Korea, and examine their in vitro neuroprotective activities. Using a chromatographic fractionation method, ten chemical constituents were isolated from ethyl acetate extracts. By means of chemical and spectroscopic methods, those were identified as eight flavonoids such as kaempherol (a), quercetin (b), kaempferol 3-methyl ether (c), quercetin 3-methyl ether (d), narcissin (e), dihydrokaernpferol (f), dihydroquercetin (g) and erioclictyol (h), and two terpenoids such as 3-oxo-${\alpha}$-ionol-${\beta}$-d-glucopyranoside (i) and roseoside (j). Among the isolated compounds, comrounds c~e and h~j were those reported for the first titre from the plant. Compounds b, d and g showed DPPH free radical scavenging activities with IC$\sub$50/ values of 28, 19 and 31, ${\mu}$M respectively. Compounds d and g also inhibited iron-dependent lipid peroxidation with IC$\sub$50/ values of 2.4 and 3.5 ${\mu}$M. In a primary rat cortical neuronal cell culture system, compounds b, d and g inhibited xanthine/xanthine oxidase-induced (IC$\sub$50/ values of 18.2, 2.1 and 54.6 ${\mu}$M) and H$_2$O$_2$-induced (IC$\sub$50/ values of 13.6, 1.9 and 25.7 ${\mu}$M) cytotoxicities. In addition, compounds d and g inhibited NMDA-induced excitotoxicity by 21 and 33%, and only compound d inhibited growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis by 31% at a tested concentration of 3 ${\mu}$M. The results suggest that the antioxidant constituents with in vitroneuroprotective activities may serve as lead chemicals for the development of neuroprotective agent.