Neuroprotective effect and mechanism of scutellarin ethyl ester on cerebral ischemia in vitro / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the blood-brain barrier permeability of scutellarin ethyl ester, the structural modification product of scutellarin, and to explore the mechanism of nerve protection on cerebral ischemia. METHODS: By co-culturing brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) and astrocytes cells (AC) in vitro, blood-brain barrier model was established. The active components were analyzed by HPLC. Rat cerebral cortical neurons cells were cultivated in vitro, and the survival rate was determined by MTT assay. The model of rat cortical neurons cell injury was established by glutamate and KCl, and the change of fluorescence intensity was detected by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM). RESULTS: Compared with control group, scutellarin ethyl ester could penetrate BBB, promote the survival of cortex nerve cells in vitro significantly(P < 0.01), and inhibit intracellular calcium overload induced by 500 μmol · L-1 glutamate (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Scutellarin ethyl ester can pass through BBB and has neuroprotective effect by regulation of calcium signal pathway to resist cerebral ischemia. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.