There is growing evidence that high concentrations of @entity842 (NO), generated by activated astrocytes, might be involved in a variety of @entity179 , such as @entity195 , @entity63 and @entity302 . It has recently been suggested that glial cells may produce NO under @entity224 radical stimulation by enzyme-independent mechanism. This suggests that also natural antioxidants may have therapeutical relevance in @entity179 . Studies of Bhattacharya et al. have evidenced that Bacopa monniera (BM) (family Scrophulariaceae), an Ayurvedic medicinal plant clinically used for memory enhancing, @entity302 , @entity22 and as a mild sedative, is able to reduce the @entity2414 in @entity35 models of @entity195 , but the molecular mechanisms of this action are yet to be determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of a methanolic extract of BM on @entity137 induced by the @entity842 donor, @entity16475 (SNAP), in culture of purified @entity35 astrocytes. Our results indicate that, after 18 h of treatment, SNAP induced an increase in the production of reactive species, but did not induce the rupture of cellular membrane. Conversely, this NO donor induced a fragmentation of genomic DNA compared to control astrocytes. The extract of BM inhibited the formation of reactive species and DNA damage in a dose dependent manner. This data supports the traditional use of BM and indicates that this medicinal plant has a therapeutic potential in treatment or prevention of @entity16 .

XXXX -related @entity137 in cultured astrocytes: effect of Bacopa monniera.

@entity137 :: ('MESH:D064420', 'Disease') :: ['toxicity'] @entity63 :: ('MESH:D007511', 'Disease') :: ['ischemia'] @entity16475 :: ('MESH:D026423', 'Chemical') :: ['S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['neurological diseases'] @entity179 :: ('MESH:D019636', 'Disease') :: ['neurodegenerative diseases'] @entity842 :: ('MESH:D009569', 'Chemical') :: ['nitric oxide'] @entity302 :: ('MESH:D004827', 'Disease') :: ['epilepsy'] @entity195 :: ('MESH:D000544', 'Disease') :: ["Alzheimer's disease"] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat'] @entity2414 :: ('MESH:D008569', 'Disease') :: ['memory-dysfunction'] @entity224 :: ('MESH:D013481', 'Chemical') :: ['superoxide'] @entity22 :: ('MESH:D007319', 'Disease') :: ['insomnia']
@entity842 :: (MESH:D009569,Chemical) :: ['Nitric oxide']
