An Alkaloid Extract obtained from Huperzia saururus induces neuroprotection after Environmental Stress and Status Epilepticus

DANELON V; MONTROULL L; VALLEJO M; CABRERA JL; AGNESE AM; ORTEGA MG.; MASCO D

PHYTOMEDICINE

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2017

0944-7113

bstract: BackgroundThe brain is exposed to many excitotoxic insults that can lead to neurondamage. Among these, Epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects alarge percentage of the world population and is commonly associated withcognitive disorders and excitotoxic neuron death. Most experimentalstrategies are focused on preventing Status Epilepticus (SE), but once ithas already occurred, the key question is whether it is possible to saveneurons.PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine if a purified alkaloid extract(AE) obtained from Phlegmariurus saururus, a genus of Lycophyte plants,sometimes known as firmosses or fir clubmosses, could induceneuroprotection following SE.MethodsIn vitro and an in vivo approaches were used for this purpose. Proteinlevels were measured by western blot. Neuronal death analysis wasperformed by calcein-ethidium staining (in vitro experiments) and byFluoro Jade B staining for the in vivo experiments.ResultsThe effect of AE in a hippocampal neuron c