School of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju 38066, Republic of Korea.
College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 15;25(4):2313. doi: 10.3390/ijms25042313.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a representative cause of dementia and is caused by neuronal loss, leading to the accumulation of aberrant neuritic plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Oxidative stress is involved in the impaired clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ), and Aβ-induced oxidative stress causes AD by inducing the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT, Kracie K-09), a traditional herbal medicine prescription, has shown therapeutic effects on various diseases. However, the studies of HHT as a potential treatment for AD are insufficient. Therefore, our study identified the neurological effects and mechanisms of HHT and its key bioactive compounds against Alzheimer's disease in vivo and in vitro. In a 5xFAD mouse model, our study confirmed that HHT attenuated cognitive impairments in the Morris water maze (MWM) test and passive avoidance (PA) test. In addition, the prevention of neuron impairment, reduction in the protein levels of Aβ, and inhibition of cell apoptosis were confirmed with brain tissue staining. In HT-22 cells, HHT attenuates tBHP-induced cytotoxicity, ROS generation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. It was verified that HHT exerts a neuroprotective effect by activating signaling pathways interacting with Nrf2, such as MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, and LKB1/AMPK. Among the components, baicalein, a bioavailable compound of HHT, exhibited neuroprotective properties and activated the Akt, AMPK, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. Our findings indicate a mechanism for HHT and its major bioavailable compounds to treat and prevent AD and suggest its potential.
阿尔茨海默病(AD)是痴呆症的代表性病因,由神经元丧失引起,导致异常神经突斑块的积累和神经纤维缠结的形成。氧化应激参与了淀粉样β(Aβ)清除的受损,而 Aβ诱导的氧化应激通过诱导神经纤维缠结的形成导致 AD。黄蓍汤(Hwangryunhaedok-tang,HHT,Kracie K-09)是一种传统的草药方剂,对各种疾病表现出治疗效果。然而,作为治疗 AD 的潜在药物,对 HHT 的研究还不够充分。因此,我们的研究在体内和体外确定了 HHT 及其关键生物活性化合物对阿尔茨海默病的神经作用和机制。在 5xFAD 小鼠模型中,我们的研究证实 HHT 可减轻 Morris 水迷宫(MWM)测试和被动回避(PA)测试中的认知障碍。此外,通过脑组织染色证实了预防神经元损伤、减少 Aβ 蛋白水平和抑制细胞凋亡。在 HT-22 细胞中,HHT 可减轻 tBHP 诱导的细胞毒性、ROS 生成和线粒体功能障碍。证实 HHT 通过激活与 Nrf2 相互作用的信号通路,如 MAPK/ERK、PI3K/Akt 和 LKB1/AMPK,发挥神经保护作用。在这些成分中,HHT 的一种生物可利用化合物黄芩素表现出神经保护特性,并激活 Akt、AMPK 和 Nrf2/HO-1 通路。我们的研究结果表明 HHT 及其主要生物活性化合物治疗和预防 AD 的机制,并表明其具有潜力。
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