Magnolol protects cortical neuronal cells from chemical hypoxia in rats

Abstract

The protective effect of magnolol, a component of Magnolia officinalis, against hypoxia-induced cell injury in cortical neuron-astrocyte mixed cultures was examined. Exposure of the cells to chemical hypoxia (0.5 mM KCN) produced morphological changes in neurons but not in astrocytes. KCN induced dose- and time-dependent increases in release of LDH and decreases in viable cell number. Treatment with magnolol (10 and 100 microM) significantly reduced the KCN-induced LDH release in a concentration-dependent manner. A higher concentration (750 microM) magnolol was toxic. Nuclear condensation was not observed in KCN-treated cells, suggesting that chemical hypoxia-induced cell death was via necrosis, rather than via apoptosis. This is the first report demonstrating that magnolol protects neurons against chemical hypoxic damage or necrotic cell death in cortical neuron-astrocyte mixed cultures.

Targeting apoptosis pathways in cancer with magnolol and honokiol, bioactive constituents of the bark of <i>Magnolia officinalis </i>

“…The potent activity of honokiol and magnolol appears to be due to the presence of hydroxyl and allylic groups on a biphenolic moiety (10 Magnolol, a hydroxylated biphenyl compound isolated from the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis, is commonly used to treat acute pain, cough, anxiety, and gastrointestinal disorders in East Asia (11). Various pharmacological actions have been reported for magnolol, including anti-inflammatory activity, antimicrobial activity (12), antiperoxidative activity (13), anti-coagulatory activity, anti-oxidant activity (14), neuroprotective activity (15), antitumor action (16)(17)(18), alleviation of inflammatory pain (19), and protection of cortical neuronal cells from chemical hypoxia (20).…”

Magnolol Suppresses MetastasisviaInhibition of Invasion, Migration, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/-9 Activities in PC-3 Human Prostate Carcinoma Cells

“…1,2) Various pharmacological actions have been reported for magnolol, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, protection of cortical neuronal cells from chemical hypoxia, and scavenging of hydroxyl free radicals. [3][4][5] Magnolol also has been reported to exhibit anticancer activity, including induction of apoptosis in cultured HepG2 human hepatoma and Colo205 colon cancer cells. 6,7) Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers and is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.…”

Protective Effect of Nicotinamide on Neuronal Cells under Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation and Hypoxia/Reoxygenation

“…After cerebral ischemia, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species may be generated by inflammatory cells through several different cellular path-ways, including calcium activation of phospholipases, nitric oxide (NO) synthase and xanthine oxidase. If cellular defense systems are weak, these free radicals may oxidize DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates [28,34], which alter cellular functions in critical ways and can cause neuronal death [5]. Recent studies suggest that apoptosis is involved in ischemic neuronal damage based on morphological and biochemical evidence [6,27].…”