Administration of red ginseng ameliorates memory decline in aged mice

AbstractBackgroundIt has been known that ginseng can be applied as a potential nutraceutical for memory impairment; however, experiments with animals of old age are few.MethodsTo determine the memory enhancing effect of red ginseng, C57BL/6 mice (21 mo old) were given experimental diet pellets containing 0.12% red ginseng extract (approximately 200 mg/kg/d) for 3 mo. Young and old mice (4 mo and 21 mo old, respectively) were used as the control group. The effect of red ginseng, which ameliorated memory impairment in aged mice, was quantified using Y-maze test, novel objective test, and Morris water maze. Red ginseng ameliorated age-related declines in learning and memory in older mice. In addition, red ginseng's effect on the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and proinflammatory cytokines was investigated in the hippocampus of aged mice.ResultsRed ginseng treatment suppressed the production of age-processed inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β expressions. Moreover, it was observed that red ginseng had an antioxidative effect on aged mice. The suppressed glutathione level in aged mice was restored with red ginseng treatment. The antioxidative-related enzymes Nrf2 and HO-1 were increased with red ginseng treatment.ConclusionThe results revealed that when red ginseng is administered over long periods, age-related decline of learning and memory is ameliorated through anti-inflammatory activity

Morphine dependence is attenuated by red ginseng extract and ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K

AbstractBackgroundRed ginseng and ginsenosides have shown plethoric effects against various ailments. However, little is known regarding the effect of red ginseng on morphine-induced dependence and tolerance. We therefore investigated the effect of red ginseng extract (RGE) and biotransformed ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K on morphine-induced dependence in mice and rats.MethodsWhile mice were pretreated with RGE and then morphine was injected intraperitoneally, rats were infused with ginsenosides and morphine intracranially for 7 days. Naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal syndrome was estimated and conditioned place preference test was performed for physical and psychological dependence, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure protein expressions.ResultsWhereas RGE inhibited the number of naloxone-precipitated jumps and reduced conditioned place preference score, it restored the level of glutathione in mice. Likewise, ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K attenuated morphine-dependent behavioral patterns such as teeth chattering, grooming, wet-dog shake, and escape behavior in rats. Moreover, activated N-methyl-D-aspartate acid receptor subunit 1 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the frontal cortex of rats, and cultured cortical neurons from mice were downregulated by ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K despite their differential effects.ConclusionRGE and biotransformed ginsenosides could be considered as potential therapeutic agents against morphine-induced dependence

Synthesis of Sulfonamides and Evaluation of Their Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Activity

A simple synthesis of sulfonamides 4–22 as novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors is described. The key synthetic strategies involve N–sulfonylation of L–proline benzyl ester hydrochloride (2) and coupling reaction of N–sulfonyl chloride 3 with amines in high yields. It was found that several compounds showed good cellular potency with the most potent compound 20 exhibiting an IC50 = 2.8 μM in vitro

A Simple Synthesis of 4-Substituted 2-(3-Hydroxy-2-oxo-1-phenethyl- propylcarbamoyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic Acid Benzyl Esters as Novel Cysteine Protease Inhibitors

A convenient synthesis of 4-substituted 2-(3-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-phenethylpropylcarbamoyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylic acid benzyl esters 17 and 18 as new cysteine protease inhibitors is described. The synthetic key strategies involve the diazocarbonyl insertion reaction of N-Boc-L-homophenylalanine (1) by diazomethane, acetylation of the bromoketone 2 with sodium acetate, and condensation of acids 12, 14 with (3S)-3-amino-2-oxo-5-phenyl-pentyl acetate monohydrochloride (4) in good yield

Practical Synthesis of Chalcone Derivatives and Their Biological Activities

Practical synthesis and biological activities of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-2-propene derivatives are described. The novel chalcone derivatives were prepared by acid catalysed one-step condensation of 1,3- or 1,4-diacetylbenzene and 1,3,5-triacetylbenzene with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde. They were then evaluated for free radical scavenging activity, suppression of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced NO generation, and anti-excitotoxicity in vitro. It was found that all compounds showed good effects for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, LPS-induced NO generation, and anti-neurotoxicity. Compounds 6 and 7 were potent suppressor of NO generation with the concentration range 10 µM and especially compound 8 showed very potent anti-inflammatory activity with 1 µM. In addition, the di- and tri-acetylbenzyl derivatives 6, 7, and 8 showed enhanced anti-neurotoxicity activity in cultured cortical neurons. Molecular modelling studies to investigate the chemical structural characteristics required for the enhanced biological activities interestingly revealed that compound 8 has the smallest highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest energy unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap, which signifies easy electron and radical transfer between HOMO and LUMO in model studies