Identification of kaempferol as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and potential Neuroprotectant in extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves

Natural products and derivatives affecting neurotransmission relevant to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

The two major neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are characterised by low levels in the brain of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine (ACh) and dopamine (DA), respectively. Clinical treatment of these two conditions is palliative and relies, in most cases, on improving stimulation at the relevant receptors by either increasing levels of the endogenous neurotransmitter or by the use of substances which have a similar agonist response. Natural products continue to provide useful drugs in their own right but also provide templates for the development of other compounds. The major advances in the treatment of AD have been the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as galantamine, huperzine A, physostigmine and its derivatives to increase the levels of ACh rather than the use of cholinergic compounds, although compounds with nicotinic properties have attracted some interest. In contrast, the treatment of PD has relied on the elevation of DA levels by use of L-DOPA, its precursor, and by the administration of dopaminergic agonists, especially the ergot alkaloid derivatives. The use of inhibitors of enzymes that cause breakdown of DA is an avenue which is being explored. As well as the major natural products of clinical interest, the paper discusses the chemistry, activity and usage of the constituents of plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases presenting symptoms similar to those characteristic for Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

Ginkgo biloba affords dose-dependent protection against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced parkinsonism in rats: neurobehavioural, neurochemical and immunohistochemical evidences

Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb), a potent antioxidant and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor, was evaluated for its anti-parkinsonian effects in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of the disease. Rats were treated with 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg EGb for 3 weeks. On day 21, 2 microL 6-OHDA (10 microg in 0.1% ascorbic acid saline) was injected into the right striatum, while the sham-operated group received 2 microL of vehicle. Three weeks after 6-OHDA injection, rats were tested for rotational behaviour, locomotor activity, and muscular coordination. After 6 weeks, they were killed to estimate the generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content, to measure activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and to quantify catecholamines, dopamine (DA) D2 receptor binding, and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) fibre density. The increase in drug-induced rotations and deficits in locomotor activity and muscular coordination due to 6-OHDA injections were significantly and dose-dependently restored by EGb. The lesion was followed by an increased generation of TBARS and significant depletion of GSH content in substantia nigra, which was gradually restored with EGb treatment. EGb also dose-dependently restored the activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes, catalase, and SOD in striatum, which had reduced significantly by lesioning. A significant decrease in the level of DA and its metabolites and an increase in the number of dopaminergic D2 receptors in striatum were observed after 6-OHDA injection, both of which were significantly recovered following EGb treatment. Finally, all of these results were exhibited by an increase in the density of TH-IR fibers in the ipsilateral substantia nigra of the lesioned group following treatment with EGb; the lesioning had induced almost a complete loss of TH-IR fibers. Considering our behavioural studies, biochemical analysis, and immunohistochemical observation, we conclude that EGb can be used as a therapeutic approach to check the neuronal loss following parkinsonism.

Studies on interactions between functional foods or dietary supplements and medicines. I. Effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem in rats

The effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE), one of the most widely used herbal dietary supplements in Japan, on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem (DTZ), a typical probe of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, were examined in rats. The simultaneous addition of GBE to small intestine and liver microsomes inhibited the formation of N-demethyl DTZ (MA), an active metabolite of DTZ produced by CYP3A, in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of about 50 and 182 microg/ml, respectively. This inhibition appeared to be caused, at least in part, by a mechanism-based inhibition. Both the rate of formation of MA and total amount of CYP in intestinal or hepatic microsomes after a single oral pretreatment with GBE (20 mg/kg) decreased transiently. The pretreatment significantly decreased the terminal elimination rate constant and increased the mean residence time, after intravenous administration of DTZ (3 mg/kg). Furthermore, it significantly increased the area under the concentration-time curve and absolute bioavailability after oral administration of DTZ (30 mg/kg). These results indicated that the concomitant use of GBE in rats increased the bioavailability of DTZ by inhibiting both intestinal and hepatic metabolism, at least in part, via a mechanism-based inhibition for CYP3A.

Natural and synthetic geiparvarins are strong and selective MAO-B inhibitors. Synthesis and SAR studies

Natural geiparvarin 1 and a number of its analogues were prepared and tested as inhibitors of both monoamine oxidase isoforms, MAO-B and MAO-A. The desmethyl congener 6 of geiparvarin, proved potent and selective MAO-B inhibitor (pIC(50)=7.55 vs 4.62). X-ray crystallography and molecular modelling studies helped the understanding of the observed structure-activity relationships.

Ageing and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system

BACKGROUND

Brain dopamine has been the focus of numerous studies owing to its crucial role in motor function and in neurological and psychiatric disease processes. Whilst early work relied on postmortem data, functional imaging has allowed a more sophisticated approach to the quantification of receptor density, affinity and functional capacity. This review aims to summarise changes in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system which accompany normal ageing.

METHODS

A literature search focussed on postmortem and neuroimaging studies of normal ageing within the nigrostriatal dopaminergic tract. The functional significance of age-related effects was also considered.

RESULTS

There are significant reductions in pre- and post-synaptic markers of brain dopamine activity during normal ageing: However the rate of decline (linear or exponential), the effects of gender and heterogeneity and the mechanisms by which these changes occur remain undetermined. Limited data suggest there is a significant association between postsynaptic receptor density and specific aspects of motor and cognitive function.

CONCLUSION

The identification of strategies to improve dopaminergic transmission may delay the onset of motor and cognitive deficits associated with normal ageing. In order to develop effective preventative strategies, the causative mechanisms underlying age-related changes and the interaction between synaptic structure and function need to be more clearly elucidated.

EGb761 blocks MPP+-induced lipid peroxidation in mouse corpus striatum

EGb761 has been suggested to be an antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Excess generation of free radicals, leading to lipid peroxidation (LP), has been proposed to play a role in the damage to striatal neurons induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). We investigated the effects of EGb761 pretreatment on MPP+ neurotoxicity. C-57 black mice were pretreated with EGb761 for 17 days at different doses (0.63, 1.25, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/kg) followed by administration of MPP+, (0.18, 0.36 or 0.72 mg/kg). LP was analyzed in corpus striatum at 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 24 h after MPP+ administration. Striatal dopamine content was analyzed by HPLC at the highest EGb761 dose at 2 h and 24 h after MPP+ administration. MPP+-induced LP was blocked (100%) by EGb761 (10 mg/kg). Pretreatment with EGb761 partially prevented (32%) the dopamine-depleting effect of MPP+ at 24 h. These results suggest that supplements of EGb761 may be effective at preventing MPP+-induced oxidative stress.