Neuroprotective Effects of Formononetin Against NMDA‐Induced Apoptosis in Cortical Neurons. (30th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tian, Zhen; Liu, Shui‐bing; Wang, Yu‐cai; Li, Xiao‐qiang; Zheng, Lian‐he; Zhao, Ming‐gao
• Is Part Of: Phytotherapy research. Volume 27:Number 12(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1770
• Page End: 1775
• Publication Date: 2013-01-30
• Subjects: Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; Botany, Medical -- Periodicals; Medicinal plants -- Periodicals; Plant Extracts -- therapeutic use -- Periodicals; Plants, Medicinal -- Periodicals; 581.634
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.4928
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-418X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Formononetin (FMNT) is an isoflavone found in many herbs including <italic>Trifolium pratense</italic> L., <italic>Spatholobus suberectus</italic> Dunn., and <italic>Astragalus mongholicus</italic> Bunge. The purpose of this study is to investigate pharmacological properties of FMNT on neurotoxicity induced by N‐methyl‐D‐asparate (NMDA) in primary‐cultured cortical neurons. The cell viability was significantly decreased after exposure to NMDA (200 μM) for 40 min. Pretreatment of FMNT (10 μM) for 12 h significantly attenuated the cell loss induced by NMDA exposure. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that treatment of FMNT attenuated the number of apoptotic cells, especially the early phase apoptotic cells, induced by NMDA exposure. Western blot analysis showed that FMNT regulated the expression of apoptosis‐related proteins by increasing the levels of Bcl‐2 and pro‐caspase‐3 and decreasing the levels of Bax and caspase‐3. These findings demonstrate that FMNT is capable of protecting neurons from NMDA‐evoked excitotoxic injury and has a potential perspective to the clinical treatment for neurodegenerative disorders in central nervous system. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>