The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회)
권호 표지

Protective Effects of Celastrol, the Triterpenoid Component of Celastrus Orbiculatus, on Dopaminergic Neuronal Cells in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-lesioned Parkinson's Disease Rats

노박덩굴에 함유된 celastrol 성분의 파킨슨병을 유발시킨 쥐에서의 도파민 신경세포 보호효과

  • Lee, Kap-Duk (Department of Department of Nanomaterial Chemistry, College of Science & Technology Dongguk University) ;
  • Kim, Kwang-Jin (Oriental Medicine Research Institute, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University) ;
  • Park, Yong-Ki (Oriental Medicine Research Institute and Oriental Medicine Drug R&D Center, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University)
  • 이갑득 (동국대학교 과학기술대학 나노소재화학과) ;
  • 김광진 (동국대학교 한의학대학 한의학연구소) ;
  • 박용기 (동국대학교 한의과대학 본초학교실, 한의학연구소 한방신약개발센터)
  • Published : 2008.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether celastrol, the triterpenoid component of Celastrus orbiculatus, offers neuroprotection against Parkinson's disease (PD) in mice administered 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine(MPTP). Methods: We examined how celastrol affected MPTP-induced neuronal loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in the midbrain of mice. C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: (1) saline-saline, (2) saline-celastrol, (3) MPTP-saline, and (4) MPTP-celastrol. The mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with four administrations of MPTP (18mg/kg) at 2 h intervals and then i.p. administered celastrol (3mg/kg) two times at 12 h after last celastrol administration. Expression of TH on the SNpc of brain tissues were analyzed at 7 days after the treatments by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis using TH antibody showed that celastrol provided significantly protective effects against MPTP-induced loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc region of the midbrain of mice. Our Western blot study also showed that celastrol significantly inhibits the MPTP-induced neuronal damage via the up-regulation of TH protein levels in MPTP mice. Conclusions: The present results suggest that it may be possible to use celastrol for the prevention of nigral degenerative disorders including PD, caused by exposure to toxic substances.

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