Planta Med 2004; 70(7): 598-602
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-827179
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Neurotrophic Effects of Talaumidin, a Neolignan from Aristolochia arcuata, in Primary Cultured Rat Cortical Neurons

Haifeng Zhai1 , Mika Nakatsukasa1 , Yasuhide Mitsumoto2 , Yoshiyasu Fukuyama1
  • 1Institute of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Japan
  • 2Neurodegenerative Disease Research Group, Second Institute of New Drug Research, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokushima, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received: December 10, 2003

Accepted: February 15, 2004

Publication Date:
15 July 2004 (online)

Abstract

Talaumidin, a tetrahydrofuran neolignan isolated from the root of Aristolochia arcuata, was shown to be an intriguing small molecule with neurotrophic activity in the primary culture of rat cortical neurons. Talaumidin can promote both dendrite-like and axon-like process outgrowth of cultured rat cortical neurons at the concentration range of 1 - 30 μM. Additionally, in the trophic withdrawal model, it can protect cell death caused by the deprivation of serum at the concentration range of 3 - 30 μM. These data suggest the potential of talaumidin to serve as a promising lead compound for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abbreviations

bFGF:human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor

MTT:thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide

MAP2:microtubule-associated protein 2

tau:tau protein, one of microtubule-associated proteins

DMEM:Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium

IgG:immunoglobulin G

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Prof. Yoshiyasu Fukuyama

Institute of Pharmacognosy

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tokushima Bunri University

180 Yamashiro-cho

Tokushima 770-8514

Japan

Fax: +81-88-622-9611

Email: fukuyama@ph.bunri-u.ac.jp