Issue 11, 2020

TCD, a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd, reduces synaptosomal release of glutamate and protects against kainic acid-induced neuronal death

Abstract

3β,7β,25-Trihydroxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al (TCD) is a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd that is a common tropical vegetable with neuroprotective effects. Because excessive glutamate release is a major cause of neuronal damage in various neurological disorders, the aims of this study were to examine the effect of TCD on glutamate release in vitro and to examine the effect of TCD in vivo. In rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes, TCD reduced 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-stimulated glutamate release and Ca2+ concentration elevation, but had no effect on plasma membrane potential. TCD-mediated inhibition of 4-AP-induced glutamate release was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium; persisted in the presence of the glutamate transporter inhibitor DL-TBOA, P/Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-agatoxin IVA, and intracellular Ca2+-releasing inhibitors dantrolene and CGP37157; and was blocked by the vesicular transporter inhibitor bafilomycin A1 and the N-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-conotoxin GVIA. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated that TCD binds to N-type Ca2+ channels. TCD-mediated inhibition of 4-AP-induced glutamate release was abolished by the Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Go6976, but was unaffected by the Ca2+-independent PKC inhibitor rottlerin. Furthermore, TCD considerably reduced the phosphorylation of PKC, PKCα, and myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, a major presynaptic substrate for PKC. In a rat model of kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity, TCD pretreatment substantially attenuated KA-induced neuronal death in the CA3 hippocampal region. These results suggest that TCD inhibits synaptosomal glutamate release by suppressing N-type Ca2+ channels and PKC activity and exerts protective effects against KA-induced excitotoxicity in vivo.

Graphical abstract: TCD, a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd, reduces synaptosomal release of glutamate and protects against kainic acid-induced neuronal death

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Aug 2020
Accepted
25 Sep 2020
First published
28 Sep 2020

Food Funct., 2020,11, 9858-9867

TCD, a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd, reduces synaptosomal release of glutamate and protects against kainic acid-induced neuronal death

S. K. Hsu, C. F. Hung, H. C. Yang, J. R. Weng and S. J. Wang, Food Funct., 2020, 11, 9858 DOI: 10.1039/D0FO02039G

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