Abstract

The author examined whether the methanol extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica fruit and Saururus chinensis have the inhibitory action on xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO)-, $FeCl_2/ascorbic$ acid- and arachidonic acid-induced neurotoxicity in mouse cortical cell cultures. The methanol extracts ($10\;{\mu}g/ml{\sim}1\;mg/ml$) of Opuntia ficus-indica and Saururus chinensis were exhibited 53-89% and $48{\sim}100%$ inhibitory action on X/XO-induced neurotoxicity, respectively. At the range of same concentration, both extracts also attenuated the $FeCl_2/ascorbic$ acid-induced neurotoxicity by $35{\sim}100%$ and $15{\sim}98%$, respectively. In arachidonic acid neurotoxicity, the methanol extract (1 mg/ml) of Opuntia ficus-indica and Saururus chinensis reduced neuronal injury by 22% and 38%, respectively. These results suggest that Opuntia ficus-indica fruit and Saururus chinensis may contribute the neuroprotection in certain free radical-mediated neuronal injury.

Keywords

• Opuntia ficus-indica;
• Saururus chinensis;
• neuroprotection superoxide anion radical;
• hydroxyl radical;
• arachidonic acid;
• mouse cortical cultures