Huperzine A derivative M3 protects PC12 cells against sodium nitroprusside-induced apoptosis

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effects of M3, a derivative of huperzine A, on the apoptosis induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in PC12 cells. Methods: Cell viability was detected using MTT method. Apoptosis was examined with annexin V/prodium iodide (PI) stain. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using fluorophotometric quantitation. The amount of malonaldehyde (MDA) was determined with MDA detection kits. The expression of caspase-3 and Hsp70 were analyzed using Western blotting. Results: Exposure of PC12 cells to SNP (200 μmol/L) for 24 h decreased the cell viability to 69.0% of that in the control group. Pretreatment with M3 (10 μmol/L) or huperzine A (10 μmol/L) significantly protected the cells against SNP-induced injury and apoptosis; the ratio of apoptotic bodies in PC12 cells was decreased from 27.3% to 15.0%. Pretreatment with M3 (10 μmol/L) significantly decreased ROS and MDA levels, and increased the expression of Hsp70 in the cells. Quercetin (10 μmol/L) blocked the protective effect of M3, while did not influence on that of huperzine A. Conclusion: M3 protects PC12 cells against SNP-induced apoptosis, possible due to ROS scavenging and Hsp70 induction.

Original article Assessment of antioxidative activity of alkaloids from Huperzia selago and Diphasiastrum complanatum using in vitro systems

“…Additional studies are necessary to reveal which components are responsible for antioxidative properties of the selected fractions, and to determine the exact mechanism of their antioxidative activity. It was previously suggested that HupA possesses potent antiapoptotic, neuroprotective and antioxidative properties [34,43,51,52,56]. Our study demonstrated that this alkaloid is not a direct scavenger of free radicals, and other mechanisms are responsible for its antioxidative potential.…”

Vascular and Neural Response to Focal Vibration, Sensory Feedback, and Piezo Ion Channel Signaling

“…Growth factors and mechanical cues affect peripheral nerve repair. Using cultured dopaminergic sympathetic ganglion neuron cells (PC12 cells treated with M3 and NGF) [462,463], vibration from 7-100 Hz enhanced neurite outgrowth when compared to NGF alone (Figure 3) [224,225]. Thereby, Piezo1 is imporant for axon growth because its knockdown induced aberrant growth and pathfinding errors [464].…”

Biotransformation of Huperzine A by a Fungal Endophyte of Huperzia serrata Furnished Sesquiterpenoid–Alkaloid Hybrids

“…Interestingly, the transformed products, huptremules A–D ( 1 – 4 ), featured unusual sesquiterpenoid–alkaloid hybrid structures that integrated the characteristics of fungal metabolites (tremulane sesquiterpenoids) and the exogenous substrate (hupA). 8α,15α-Epoxyhuperzine A ( 5 ), the known hupA derivative reported to protect PC12 cells against SNP-induced apoptosis, was obtained with a yield (>27%) higher than reported . The AChE inhibitory activities of 1 – 5 were significantly lower than that of hupA (Table ).…”