Phytotherapy Research

Volume 27, Issue 12 p. 1770-1775

Full Paper

Neuroprotective Effects of Formononetin Against NMDA-Induced Apoptosis in Cortical Neurons

Zhen Tian,

Zhen Tian

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Zhen Tian, Shui-bing Liu, and Yu-cai Wang contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author

Shui-bing Liu,

Shui-bing Liu

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Zhen Tian, Shui-bing Liu, and Yu-cai Wang contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author

Yu-cai Wang,

Yu-cai Wang

Department of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Zhen Tian, Shui-bing Liu, and Yu-cai Wang contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author

Xiao-qiang Li,

Xiao-qiang Li

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

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Lian-he Zheng,

Corresponding Author

Lian-he Zheng

Department of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Correspondence to: Dr. Lian-he Zheng, Department of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China; Dr. Ming-gao Zhao, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Ming-gao Zhao,

Corresponding Author

Ming-gao Zhao

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Zhen Tian,

Zhen Tian

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Zhen Tian, Shui-bing Liu, and Yu-cai Wang contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author

Shui-bing Liu,

Shui-bing Liu

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Zhen Tian, Shui-bing Liu, and Yu-cai Wang contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author

Yu-cai Wang,

Yu-cai Wang

Department of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Zhen Tian, Shui-bing Liu, and Yu-cai Wang contributed equally to this work.Search for more papers by this author

Xiao-qiang Li,

Xiao-qiang Li

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

Search for more papers by this author

Lian-he Zheng,

Corresponding Author

Lian-he Zheng

Department of Orthopaedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

Ming-gao Zhao,

Corresponding Author

Ming-gao Zhao

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 30 January 2013

https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4928

Citations: 38

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Abstract

Formononetin (FMNT) is an isoflavone found in many herbs including Trifolium pratense L., Spatholobus suberectus Dunn., and Astragalus mongholicus Bunge. The purpose of this study is to investigate pharmacological properties of FMNT on neurotoxicity induced by N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) in primary-cultured cortical neurons. The cell viability was significantly decreased after exposure to NMDA (200 μM) for 40 min. Pretreatment of FMNT (10 μM) for 12 h significantly attenuated the cell loss induced by NMDA exposure. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that treatment of FMNT attenuated the number of apoptotic cells, especially the early phase apoptotic cells, induced by NMDA exposure. Western blot analysis showed that FMNT regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins by increasing the levels of Bcl-2 and pro-caspase-3 and decreasing the levels of Bax and caspase-3. These findings demonstrate that FMNT is capable of protecting neurons from NMDA-evoked excitotoxic injury and has a potential perspective to the clinical treatment for neurodegenerative disorders in central nervous system. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Volume27, Issue12

December 2013

Pages 1770-1775

Neuroprotective Effects of Formononetin Against NMDA-Induced Apoptosis in Cortical Neurons

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Neuroprotective Effects of Formononetin Against NMDA-Induced Apoptosis in Cortical Neurons

Abstract

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