Neuroprotective Effects of 2,5-Diaryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran Neolignans

Abstract

We previously reported the neurotrophic effects of talaumidin (1) from Aristolochia arcuata MASTERS. In the present study, we compared the neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of six other 2,5-diaryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran neolignans isolated from the same plant, veraguensin (2), galgravin (3), aristolignin (4), nectandrin A (5), isonectandrin B (6), and nectandrin B (7), with compound 1 in primary cultured rat neurons. Compounds 3—7 promoted neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth, among which compounds 6 and 7 showed neurotrophic activity comparable with that of 1. Furthermore, compounds 1—7 protected hippocampal neurons against amyloid β peptide (Aβ_25—35)-induced cytotoxicity, while compounds 1 and 4—7 protected against neuronal death from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP⁺)-induced toxicity in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.