scholarly journals Banhasasim-Tang Ameliorates Spatial Memory by Suppressing Oxidative Stress through Regulation of ERK/p38 Signaling in Hippocampus of Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Malk Eun Pak ◽  
You-Chang Oh ◽  
Yeo Jin Park ◽  
Jae Kwang Kim ◽  
Min-Gyeong Shin ◽  
...  

Since ancient times, Banhasasim-tang (BHS) has been used to treat functional dyspepsia in East Asia. Here, we aimed to determine the protective action of BHS on hippocampal neurons against oxidative stress. We investigated the functional effect of BHS on a scopolamine-induced mouse model, and molecular analysis was performed in glutamate-induced HT22 cells. We observed that BHS administration ameliorated memory dysfunction in scopolamine-treated mice. BHS administration also increased neuronal survival and acetylcholine activity and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the hippocampus of mice. In hippocampal cells, BHS treatment rescued glutamate-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. We observed an increase of HO-1 and a decrease of Nrf2 protein expression in glutamate-induced oxidative stress; however, the expression level of these proteins was significantly rescued by BHS treatment. BHS treatment also regulated phosphorylation of p38, p53, ERK, and CREB. Therefore, our data indicated that BHS may reduce oxidative stress through regulation of ERK-CREB and p38-p53 signaling in the hippocampus, resulting in decreased neuronal damage and improved memory in rodent models of neurodegenerative disease.

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1400901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuhiro Nakamura ◽  
Tomoko Suzuki ◽  
Mai Takagi ◽  
Hirotoshi Tamura ◽  
Toshiya Masuda

Bioactive compounds from citrus fruits contribute many benefits to human health. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling plays an important role in the regulation of multiple cellular processes. Activation of the ERK-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signaling is required for long-term memory formation. In this study, auraptene, phellopterin, thymol, coniferyl alcohol 9-methyl ether and methyl ferulate were isolated from Citrus junos. Among the five compounds isolated, auraptene and phellopterin increased the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB. This study provides, to our knowledge, the first evidence that phellopterin potently stimulates the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB. Phellopterin could be a novel neuroprotective agent.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Lu ◽  
Jia Liang ◽  
Jun-Ren Wang ◽  
Li Hu ◽  
Ya Tu ◽  
...  

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) signal pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. There is growing evidence that acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine has antidepressant-like effect. However, the effect of acupuncture on ERK-CREB pathway remains unknown. In our study, the antidepressant-like effect of acupuncture treatment was measured by sucrose intake test and open field test in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 4 weeks. The protein levels of ERK1/2, CREB, phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) in the hippocampus (HP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were examined by Western blot analysis. Our results showed that CUMS rats exhibited the reduction in behavioral activities, whereas acupuncture stimulation at acupoints Baihui (Du20) and Neiguan (PC6) reversed the behavioral deficit. In addition, exposure to CUMS resulted in the decrease of p-ERK1/2 and p-CREB in the HP and PFC. Acupuncture increased the ratio of p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2 and the ratio of p-CREB to CREB in the HP and PFC. Our study suggested that one potential way, by which acupuncture had antidepressant-like effect, might be mediated by activating the ERK-CREB pathway in the brain.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng-Lin Yen ◽  
Moo-Chin Wang ◽  
Chan-Jung Liang ◽  
Horng-Huey Ko ◽  
Chiang-Wen Lee

Overexpression of tyrosinase can cause excessive production of melanin and lead to hyperpigmentation disorders, including melasma and freckles. Recently, agents obtained from plants are being used as alternative medicines to downregulate tyrosinase synthesis and decrease melanin production.Phyla nodifloraGreene (Verbenaceae) is used as a folk medicine in Taiwanese for treating and preventing inflammatory diseases such as hepatitis and dermatitis. However, the antimelanogenesis activity and molecular biological mechanism underlying the activity of the methanolic extract ofP. nodiflora(PNM) have not been investigated to date. Our results showed that PNM treatment was not cytotoxic and significantly reduced the cellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Further, PNM exhibited a significant antimelanogenesis effect (P<0.05) by reducing the levels of phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), inhibiting the synthesis of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2, and decreasing the cellular melanin content. Moreover, PNM significantly activated the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, including phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and phospho-p38, and inhibited the synthesis of MITF, thus decreasing melanogenesis. These properties suggest that PNM could be used as a clinical and cosmetic skin-whitening agent to cure and/or prevent hyperpigmentation.


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