Neuroprotection by Kukoamine A against oxidative stress may involve N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors

  Xiao-Long Hu, Ling-Yue Gao, Yi-Xuan Niu, Xing Tian, Jian Wang, Wei-Hong Meng, Qiao Zhang, Can Cui, Lu Han, Qing-Chun Zhao

Abstract

Background

Accumulative evidences have indicated that oxidative-stress and over-activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are important mechanisms of brain injury. This study investigated the neuroprotection of Kukoamine A (KuA) and its potential mechanisms.

Methods

Molecular docking was used to discover KuA that might have the ability of blocking NMDARs. Furthermore, the MTT assay, the measurement of LDH, SOD and MDA, the flow cytometry for ROS, MMP and Annexin V-PI double staining, the laser confocal microscopy for intracellular Ca2 + and western-blot analysis were employed to evaluate the neuroprotection of KuA.

 Kukoamine A was purchased from the Chengdu Biopurify Phytochemicals Ltd. (China) with greater than 98.22% purity