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Hyperforin promotes mitochondrial function and development of oligodendrocytes
Author(s) -
Wang Yanlin,
Zhang Yanbo,
He Jue,
Zhang Handi,
Xiao Lan,
Nazarali Adil,
Zhang Zhijun,
Zhang Dai,
Tan Qingrong,
Kong Jiming,
Li XinMin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07433.x
Subject(s) - hyperforin , oligodendrocyte , progenitor cell , neural stem cell , antidepressant , neuroscience , mitochondrion , pharmacology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , hypericum perforatum , chemistry , stem cell , central nervous system , hippocampus , myelin
J. Neurochem. (2011) 119 , 555–568. Abstract St. John’s wort has been found to be an effective and safe herbal treatment for depression in several clinical trials. However, the underlying mechanism of its therapeutic effects is unclear. Recent studies show that the loss and malfunction of oligodendrocytes are closely related to the neuropathological changes in depression, which can be reversed by antidepressant treatment. In this study, we evaluated the effects of hyperforin, a major active component of St. John’s wort, on the proliferation, development and mitochondrial function of oligodendrocytes. The study results revealed that hyperforin promotes maturation of oligodendrocytes and increases mitochondrial function without affecting proliferation of an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line and neural stem/progenitor cells. Hyperforin also prevented mitochondrial toxin‐induced cytotoxicity in an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line. These findings suggest that hyperforin may stimulate the development and function of oligodendrocytes, which could be a mechanism of its effect in depression. Future in vitro and in vivo studies are required to further characterize the mechanisms of hyperforin.