Neuroprotective effect of Alpinia oxyphylla extract against glutamate‐induced apoptosis in cultured mouse cortical neurons

Abstract

Glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis plays an important role in neurodegenerative disorders. In the process of screening for naturally occurring substances with neuroprotective effects against glutamate exitotoxicity, we have discovered that the extract from Alpinia oxyphylla, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, exhibited significant neuroprotective activity against glutamate exitotoxicity in cultured cortical neurons. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Alpinia oxyphylla extract against glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis in primary cultured mouse cortical neurons. After exposure of the neurons to glutamate (30 μM), apoptotic cell death was observed as evidenced by alteration of neuronal morphology, DNA fragmentation on agarose gel and flow cytometric analysis. Co-treatment of the neurons with Alpinia oxyphylla extract (80–240 μg/ml) in the presence of glutamate significantly elevated the cell viability, reduced the number of apoptotic cells and decreased the intensity of glutamate-induced DNA fragmentation. The results suggest the neuroprotective potential of Alpinia oxyphylla against glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis.