• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.817-819
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• 2002

In the course of screening Korean natural products for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, it was found that a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Corydalis incisa (Papaveraceae) showed significant inhibitory effects on AChE. Corynoline isolated from this plant inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the $IC_{50}$ value of corynoline was $30.6{\;}{\mu}M$. The AChE inhibitory activity of corynoline was reversible and noncompetitive.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.735-738
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• 2003

The methanolic extract of the twigs of Celtis chinensis was found to show inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme that plays a role in the metabolic hydrolysis of ACh. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of N-p-coumaroyl tyramine. as an inhibitor on AChE. This compound inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the $IC_50$ value of trans-N-p-coumaroyl tyramine was 34.5 $\mu$g/mL (122 $\mu$M).

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.263-272
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• 1994

Since it was been reported that the depolarization-induced ACh release is inhibited by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor in hippocampus, a large body of experimental data on the post-receptor mechanism of this process has been accumulated. But, the post-receptor mechanism of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ receptor on the ACh release has not been clearly elucidated yet. Therefore, it was attempted to clarify the post-receptor mechanisms of the $A_1-adenosine$ receptor-mediated control of ACh release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $^3H-choline$ and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 5 $VCm^{-1}$, 2ms, rectangular pulses), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. Adenosine, in concentrations ranging from $0.3{\sim}300\;{\mu}M$, decreased the ACh release in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the basal rate of release. The adenosine effects were significantly inhibited by $DPCPX\;(2\;{\mu}M)$, a selective $A_1-receptor$ antagonist. The responses to N-ethylmaleimide $(10&30{\mu}M)$, a SH-alkylating agent of G-protein, were characterized by increments of the evoked ACh-release and the basal release, and the adenosine effects were completely abolished by NEM pretreatment. PDB $(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, a specific protein kinase C (PKC) activator, increased, whereas PMB $(0.03{\sim}1\;mg)$, a PKC inhibitor, decreased the evoked ACh-release, and the adenosine effects were not affected by these agents. Nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a $Ca^{2+}\;-channel$ blocker of dihydropyridine analogue, significantly inhibited the adenosine effect, but glibenclamide, a $K^+-channel$ blocker, did not. Finally, 8-bromo cyclic AMP $(100\;&\;300{\mu}M)$, a membrane-permeable analogue of cAMP, did not alter the ACh release, but adenosine effects were inhibited by pretreatment with large dose of 8-br-cAMP $(300\;{\mu}M)$. These results indicate that the decrement of the evoked ACh-release by $A_1-adenosine$ receptor is mediated by the G-protein, and nifedipine-sensitive $Ca^{2+}-channel$ and adenylate cyclase system are coupled partly to this effect, and that protein kinase C and glibenclamide-sensitive $K{^+}-channel$ are not involved in this process.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 1992

Experiments were conducted to establish an in vitro AChE inhibition test system to evaluate the potency of AChE inhibition of new chemical compounds. For a fixed time inhibition test, optimal inhibition (incubation) time to evaluate their AChE inhibition potency was 10 min. for AChE inhibitors such as DFP, DDVP, and paraoxon. The concentration of new chemical compounds with an ester group for evaluation of their inhibition potency was 10 $\mu$M under 10 min. preincubation conditions. However, the stepwise inhibition test with higher concentrations seemed to be needed for other chemical compounds. For a progressive inhibition test to calculate inhibition constants such as $K_d$, $K_3$ and $K_i$, extremely low $K_d(1.3\times10-^85.6\times10^{-7})$ and $K_3$(0. 21-0.27 $min^{-1}$) were observed under lagged preincubation time (0.8-13.3 min) and low in¬hibitor concentrations $(1\times10-^92\times10-^6M)$. However, this method seemed to be useful for comparison of AChE inhibition potency among inhibitors. Differences in inhibition potency among DFP, paraoxon, and KH501 were due to the differences in $K_d$, in other words, differences in affinities between inhibitors and AChEs. Therefore, AntiChE screening should consist of two steps. The first step is to evaluate the potency of AChE inhibition based on $I_50$ valuse obtained from fixed time inhibition tests. The second step is to study inhibition patterns and characteristics of chemical compounds selected in the first step.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 1988

The effect of Panaxadiol(PD), which is an active component of Korean Ginseng Saponins, on the secretion of catecholamines (CA) from the rabbit adrenal gland and its mode of action were investigated in the present study. $PD(400{\mu}g)$ increased significantly the secretion of CA from the isolated perfused rabbit adrenal gland. PD-induced secretion of CA was reduced markedly by treatment of atropine, CA secretion induced by Ach or PD was potentiated significantly by physostigmine-treatment. Chlorisondamine did inhibit CA secretion of PD or Ach. Perfusion of $PD(400{\mu}g)$ for 30 min enhanced the secretory activity of CA by Ach. Ouabain weakened the secretory response induced by PD but rather enhanced the response by Ach. Adenosine-treatment resulted in marked enhancement of CA secretion by PD or Ach, Pefusion with $Ca^{2+}-free$ Krebs containing EGTA (5 mM) for about 30 min totally blocked secretory effect induced by Ach and also weakened that by PD. From the above experimental results, it is suggested that PD causes secretion of catecholamines from the rabbit adrenal gland by a calcium-dependent exocytotic mechanism. The secretory effect of PD is due to the stimulation of cholinergic muscarinic and nicotinic receptors present in the adrenal gland and partly to a direct action on the chromaffin cell itself.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2004

This study was designed to investigate the effects of ethyl acetate(EtOAc) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin(LF) accumulations, acetylcholine(ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase(ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase(AChE), and monoamine oxidase-B(MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) and experimental diets (EtOAc-25, EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitocholndria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (11.8-12.1% and 9.6-13.0%, respectvely) in EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100 groups. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased about 10% in membranes of EtOAc-100 group compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased about 8 -12% in membranes of EtOAc-50 and EtOAc-100 groups compared with control group. MAO-B activities were significantly inhibited about 10% in membrane of EtOAc-l00 group compared with control group. These results suggest that ethyl acetate fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in inhibiting cholesterol and improving a membrane fluidity, and learning and memory impairments. (Korean J Nutrition 37(2): 95 -99, 2004)

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.447-451
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• 2012

In order to investigate the efficacies for cognitive function of edible plants, we measured the inhibitory effects of acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity, radical scavenging activities, and the contents of GABA and glutamate in the plant extracts. Among the plant extracts, Schizandra chinensis contained the highest GABA 14.8 mg/g and the extracts of Cnidium officinale and Polygonum multiflorum also had a relatively high GABA. On the other hand, plant extracts except, Acorus gramineus, showed similar glutamate contents. S. chinensis, Hovenia dulcis, Thuja orientalis, and Eleutherococcus senticosus exhibited high inhibition against AChE activities at about 18-33% at 1 mg/mL. In addition, strong radical scavenging activities were also detected in those extracts which showed high AChE inhibition. Taken together, H. dulcis, T. orientalis, E. senticosus, and S. chinensis could be effective resources for enhancing cognitive function. Further, it was suggested that the AChE inhibitory activities of plant extracts might be related to antioxidative activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 1994

As it has been reported that the depolarization induced acetylcholine(ACh) release is modulated by activation of presynaptic $A_1-adenosine$ heteroreceptor and various lines of evidence indicate the $A_2-receptor$ is present In hippocampus, this study was undertaken to delineate the role of adenosine receptors on hippocampal ACh release. Slices from the rat hippocampus were equilibrated with $[^3H]-choline$ and the release of the labelled product, $[^3H]-ACh$, which evoked by electrical stimulation(3 Hz, $5\;Vcm^{-1}$, 2 ms, rectangular pulses) was measured, and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium outflow was Investigated. Adenosine$(0.3{\sim}100\;{\mu}M)$ and CPA$(0.1{\sim}30\;{\mu}M)$ decreased the $[^3H]-ACh$ release in a dose-dependent manner without changing the basal rate of release. DPCPX$(1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M)$, a selective $A_1-receptor$, antagonist, increased the $[^3H]-ACh$ release in a dose related fashion with slight increase of basal tritium release. And the effects of adenosine and CPA were significantly inhibited by $DPCPX(2\;{\mu}M)$ treatment. CPCA, a specific $A_2-agonist$, in concentration ranging from 0.3 to 30 ${\mu}M$, decreased the evoked tritium outflow, and these effects were also abolished by $DPCPX(2\;{\mu}M)$ treatment. But the CPCA effects were not affected by $DMPX(2\;{\mu}M)$, a specific Aa-antagonist, treatment. However, CGS 21680c, a recently introduced potent $A_2-agonist$, in concentration ranging from 0.1 to $10{\mu}M$, did not alter the evoked tritium outflow. These results indicate that the decrement of the evoked ACh release by adenosine is mediated by $A_1-heteroreceptor$, but $A_2-adenosine$ receptor is not involved in ACh release in the rat hippocampus.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2005

Our previous report demonstrated that chick myoblasts are equipped with $Ca^{2+}$-permeable stretchactivated channels and $Ca^{2+}-activated$ potassium channels ($K_{Ca}$), and that hyperpolarization-induced by $K_{Ca}$ channels provides driving force for $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the stretch-activated channels into the cells. Here, we showed that acetylcholine (ACh) also hyperpolarized the membrane of cultured chick myoblasts, suggesting that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) may be another pathway for $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Under cell-attatched patch configuration, ACh increased the open probability of $K_{Ca}$ channels from 0.007 to 0.055 only when extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was present. Nicotine, a nAChR agonist, increased the open probability of $K_{Ca}$ channels from 0.008 to 0.023, whereas muscarine failed to do so. Since the activity of $K_{Ca}$ channel is sensitive to intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level, nAChR seems to be capable of inducing $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Using the $Ca^{2+}$ imaging analysis, we were able to provide direct evidence that ACh induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx from extracellular solution, which was dramatically increased by valinomycin-mediated hyperpolarization. In addition, ACh hyperpolarized the membrane potential from $-12.5{\pm}3$ to $-31.2{\pm}5$ mV by generating the outward current through $K_{Ca}$ channels. These results suggest that activation of nAChR increases $Ca^{2+}$ influx, which activates $K_{Ca}$ channels, thereby hyperpolarizing the membrane potential in chick myoblasts.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.313-317
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• 2004

The present study were designed to characterize the action mechanisms of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in arteries precontracted with high $K^+$(70 mM). For this, we simultaneously measured both muscle tension and cytosolic free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$, using fura-2, in endothelium-intact, rabbit carotid arterial strips. In the artery with endothelium, high $K^+$ increased both $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and muscle tension whereas ACh $(10{\mu}M)$ significantly relaxed the muscle and increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. In the presence of $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME, 0.1 mM), ACh increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ without relaxing the muscle. In the artery without endothelium, high $K^+$ increased both $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and muscle tension although ACh was ineffective. 4-DAMP (10 nM) or atropine $(0.1{\mu}M)$ abolished ACh-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and relaxation. The increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and vasorelaxation by ACh was siginificantly reduced by either $3{\mu}M$ gadolinium, $10{\mu}M$ lanthanum, or by $10{\mu}M$ SKF 96365. These results suggest that in rabbit carotid artery, ACh-evoked relaxation of 70 mM $K^+$-induced contractions appears to be mediated by the release of NO. ACh-evoked vasorelaxation is mediated via the $M_3$ subtype, and activation of the $M_3$ subtype is suggested to stimulate nonselective cation channels, leading to increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in endothelial cells.