Preventive agents for neurodegenerative diseases from resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis attenuate LPS-induced microglia over-activation

AbstractOur previous research revealed resin ofDracaena cochinchinensis as a candidate for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, the material basis of Chinese Dragon ’s blood and the primary mechanism of the effective components are discussed. Multiple chromatography and spectra analysis were utilized to identify effective constituents. The production of NO was determined using nitrite assay in BV-2 microglial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). C ell viability was tested using MTT assay. The mRNA level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the production of IL-6 and TNF-α in the cell supernatants was tested by ELISA. The bioassay-directed separation of the effective extract ofD. cochinchinensis afforded two new compounds, a stilbene-flavane dimer (2) and a quinoid flavonoid (11), in addition to 25 known compounds. The evaluation of their anti-neuroinflammatory activities showed that5,9,12,13, and14 could exhibit significant anti-neuroinflammatory effects without cytotoxities at the tested concentration, compared to a positive control, minocycline (21.87  ± 2.36 µM). A primary mechanistic study revealed that the effective components could inhibit over-activation of microglial through decreasing the expressions of iNOS, proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS- induced BV2 microglial cells. Chalcone9, homoisoflavane5 and flavone12–14 are considered to be res...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research