Wednesday, 5 December 2018
Lumbee traditional medicine: Neuroprotective activities of medicinal plants
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jep
used to treat Parkinson's disease-related symptoms
Aurélie de Rus Jacqueta,⁎, Michael Timmersb, Sin Ying Maa, Andrew Thiemea, George
P. McCabec, Jay Hansford C. Vestd, Mary Ann Lilab, Jean-Christophe Rocheta,e,⁎⁎
a Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
b Plants for Human Health Institute, Department of Food Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
c Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
d University of North Carolina at Pembroke, PO Box 1510, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
e Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
A B S T R A C T
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a
loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the presence in surviving neurons of Lewy
body inclusions enriched with aggregated forms of the presynaptic protein α-synuclein (aSyn). Although current
therapies provide temporary symptomatic relief, they do not slow the underlying neurodegeneration in the
midbrain. In this study, we analyzed contemporary herbal medicinal practices used by members of the Lumbee tribe
to treat PD-related symptoms, in an effort to identify safe and effective herbal medicines to treat PD.
Aim of the study: The aims of this study were to (i) document medicinal plants used by Lumbee Indians to treat
PD and PD-related symptoms, and (ii) characterize a subset of plant candidates in terms of their ability to
alleviate neurotoxicity elicited by PD-related insults and their potential mechanisms of neuroprotection.
Materials and methods: Interviews of Lumbee healers and local people were carried out in Pembroke, North
Carolina, and in surrounding towns. Plant samples were collected and prepared as water extracts for subsequent
analysis. Extracts were characterized in terms of their ability to induce activation of the nuclear factor E2-
related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant response in cortical astrocytes. An extract prepared from Sambucus caerulea
flowers (elderflower extract) was further examined for the ability to induce Nrf2-mediated transcription in
induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes and primary midbrain cultures, to ameliorate
mitochondrial dysfunction, and to alleviate rotenone- or aSyn-mediated neurotoxicity.
Results: The ethnopharmacological interviews resulted in the documentation of 32 medicinal plants used to
treat PD-related symptoms and 40 plants used to treat other disorders. A polyphenol-rich extract prepared from
elderflower activated the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response in cortical astrocytes, iPSC-derived astrocytes,
and primary midbrain cultures, apparently via the inhibition of Nrf2 degradation mediated by the ubiquitin
proteasome system. Furthermore, the elderflower extract rescued mitochondrial functional deficits in a
neuronal cell line and alleviated neurotoxicity elicited by rotenone and aSyn in primary midbrain cultures.
Conclusions: These results highlight potential therapeutic benefits of botanical extracts used in traditional
Lumbee medicine, and they provide insight into mechanisms by which an elderflower extract could suppress
neurotoxicity elicited by environmental and genetic PD-related insults.
1. Introduction
Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease
affecting 1–2% of individuals over the age of 60 and 5% of the
population over the age of 85 (Shulman et al., 2011). PD symptoms
include motor disturbances such as slow movement, resting tremor,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.02.021
Received 2 September 2016; Received in revised form 28 January 2017; Accepted 13 February 2017
Refers to: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.01.001
⁎ Corresponding author. Present address: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street,
Box 358056, Seattle, WA 98122, USA.
⁎⁎ Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: jacqueta@uw.edu (A. de Rus Jacquet), matimmer@ncsu.edu (M. Timmers), ma200@purdue.edu (S.Y. Ma), thiemea@purdue.edu (A. Thieme),
mccabe@purdue.edu (G.P. McCabe), jay.vest@uncp.edu (J.H.C. Vest), mlila@ncsu.edu (M.A. Lila), jrochet@purdue.edu (J.-C. Rochet).
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
Available online 15 February 2017
0378-8741/ © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
MARK
and loss of balance, as well as non-motor symptoms including
depression and anxiety (Fahn, 2003; Massano and Bhatia, 2012).
Histopathological hallmarks include a loss of dopaminergic neurons
in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the presence in surviving
neurons of Lewy bodies enriched with aggregated forms of the presynaptic
protein α-synuclein (aSyn) (Rochet et al., 2012; Shulman
et al., 2011; Spillantini et al., 1997). The post-mortem brains of PD
patients are also characterized by evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction
(in particular, a decrease in complex I activity) and oxidative
damage (Betarbet et al., 2000; Sanders and Greenamyre, 2013).
Mutations in the SNCA gene encoding aSyn, including gene multiplications
and substitutions (A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D, A53E, and
A53T) (Petrucci et al., 2016), have been linked to familial forms of PD
and are thought to promote aSyn aggregation (Conway et al., 2000;
Khalaf et al., 2014; Rochet et al., 2012; Ysselstein et al., 2015). A
number of other genes have been found to be mutated in familial,
monogenic forms of PD, including the genes encoding parkin, PINK1,
DJ-1, ATP13A2, LRRK2, and VPS35, and genes with polymorphisms
that increase the risk of PD have been identified via GWAS analysis
(Hernandez et al., 2016; Trinh and Farrer, 2013). Epidemiological
evidence suggests that exposure to environmental toxins, including the
pesticide rotenone and the herbicide paraquat (PQ), results in an
increased risk of PD (Tanner et al., 2011). Both rotenone (an inhibitor
of mitochondrial complex I) and PQ (a redox-cycling agent) trigger an
accumulation in neurons of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that in turn
stimulate the conversion of aSyn to oxidatively modified species with
an enhanced ability to form potentially neurotoxic oligomers (Conway
et al., 2001; Mirzaei et al., 2006; Rochet et al., 2012). Current
therapeutic options for PD patients consist of dopamine replacement
strategies that only result in a temporary relief of symptoms, with no
effect on the underlying loss of dopaminergic neurons (Fahn, 2003).
Hence, there is an urgent need for new therapies that could slow or
stop the neurodegenerative process.
Epidemiological data suggest that the consumption of berries rich
in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins may lead to a reduced risk of
developing PD (Gao et al., 2012). In support of these observations, we
reported that anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-rich extracts and a
number of individual anthocyanins alleviated neurodegeneration triggered
by rotenone in a primary midbrain culture model relevant to PD
(Strathearn et al., 2014). Moreover, other polyphenols have been
reported to mitigate neurotoxicity in cellular and animal models of
PD (Song et al., 2012), including stilbenes (Blanchet et al., 2008; Jin
et al., 2008; Khan et al., 2010; Strathearn et al., 2014), isoflavones
(Chen et al., 2008; Kyuhou, 2008; R. Li et al., 2013; Zhu et al., 2014),
and curcumin (Rajeswari and Sabesan, 2008; Spinelli et al., 2015;
Tripanichkul and Jaroensuppaperch, 2012). Because polyphenols generally
accumulate in the brain at low levels compared to endogenous
antioxidants, it is hypothesized that they carry out their neuroprotective
effects via mechanisms unrelated to ROS scavenging (Del Rio et al.,
2013; Milbury and Kalt, 2010; Williams et al., 2004), including
stimulation of cellular antioxidant responses mediated by the transcription
factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) (Colin-
Gonzalez et al., 2012; Kraft et al., 2004; McWalter et al., 2004; Na
and Surh, 2008; Satoh et al., 2013; Yan et al., 2015), amelioration of
mitochondrial dysfunction (Morin et al., 2003; Zini et al., 2002), and
suppression of inflammatory responses associated with glial activation
(Guo et al., 2007; Kao et al., 2009; Lau et al., 2007).
The Lumbee Indian tribe of North Carolina is the eighth largest
Native American tribe in the United States, consisting of more than
65,000 members as reported by the American Community Survey (fiveyear
estimates from 2011–2015, American Fact Finder, US Census
Bureau; http://factfinder.census.gov). The Lumbee tribe, recognized by
the State of North Carolina since 1885, derives its name from the
Lumbee River, which is of critical importance to the cultural identity
and spiritual life of the tribe and a symbol for its people (Knick, 2003).
Lumbee Indians primarily reside in southeastern North Carolina in the
four counties of Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland (Bryant
and LaFromboise, 2005). Over hundreds of years of migration and
interactions with different cultures, the Lumbee Indians have modified
and adapted their way of life, and as a result their cultural heritage has
been imprinted with European customs including certain Christian
practices (Bryant and LaFromboise, 2005; Dial and Eliades, 1996;
Lowery, 2010). Similarly, contemporary Lumbee traditional medicine
is a combination of herbal and Christian faith healing (Boughman and
Oxendine, 2004; Steedly, 1979). Traditionally, Lumbee healers
harvested medicinal plants in natural areas close to where they lived,
including fields and ditches (Boughman and Oxendine, 2004; Croom,
1982). Robeson and surrounding counties are located in the
Southeastern Atlantic coastal plain of North Carolina and benefit
from a unique ecological environment. Characteristic landscapes
include swamp forests and sandhill, pine, and oak forests with a high
floristic diversity (Boyle, 2009). However, agriculture and
industrialization have continuously modified these wetlands, leading
to the decline of certain medicinal plants (Boughman and Oxendine,
2004; Croom, 1982).
This article is aimed at documenting contemporary herbal medicinal
practices used by the Lumbee Indians to treat symptoms related to PD and
other CNS disorders. We report the use of 32 medicinal plants to treat PDrelated
symptoms, and we describe a system of traditional medicine based
on a combination of herbal knowledge and faith healing. In addition, we
describe the characterization of a subset of plants in terms of their ability to
activate the cellular antioxidant response, protect against neuronal death
induced by PD-related insults, and preserve mitochondrial function. Our
findings suggest that medicinal plants used in Lumbee traditional medicine
could form the basis of PD therapies, and they yield insights into
mechanisms by which the plants could interfere with neurodegeneration
in the brains of patients.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Materials
Unless otherwise stated, chemicals were obtained from Sigma
Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Media
(DMEM), fetal bovine serum (FBS), penicillin-streptomycin, and
trypsin-EDTA were obtained from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA).
Nuserum was purchased from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham,
MA). The SH-SY5Y cells were purchased from ATCC (Manassas, VA).
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes (iCell
astrocytes) were obtained from Cellular Dynamics International
(Madison, WI). The vector pSX2_d44_luc (Alam et al., 1999) was
provided by Dr. Ning Li (UCLA) with the permission of Dr. Jawed Alam
(LSU Health Sciences Center), and the GFPu reporter adenovirus was
provided by Dr. Xuejun Wang (University of South Dakota). Plant
specimens were collected and deposited as described below.
2.2. Antibodies
The following antibodies were used in this study: chicken anti-
MAP2 (catalog number CPCA-MAP2, EnCor Biotechnology,
Gainesville, FL); rabbit anti-TH (catalog number 2025-THRAB,
PhosphoSolutions, Aurora, CO); mouse anti-GFAP (catalog MAB360,
EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA); rabbit anti-Iba-1 (catalog number 019-
19741, Wako Chemicals USA, Richmond, VA); and anti-mouse IgGAlexa
Fluor 488, anti-rabbit IgG-Alexa Fluor 488, and anti-chicken
IgG-Alexa Fluor 594 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA).
2.3. Ethnopharmacological interviews
The interview phase of this study was carried out in Robeson
County, NC and in the city of Pembroke, NC, the political center of the
tribe. Ethnopharmacological interviews were carried out with the
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
409
approval of the Purdue Institutional Review Board. The participants
were informed about the anonymity of the survey and the fact that they
could terminate the interview process at any time. The interview
objectives and process were defined as described previously (de Rus
Jacquet et al., 2014) and in the accompanying article (de Rus Jacquet
et al., 2017). Briefly, open-ended interviews were performed to
question the participants about medicinal plants used to treat symptoms
related to PD. Our approach was to ask the participants about
medicinal plants used to treat both motor symptoms (tremor, weakness,
and paralysis) and non-motor symptoms (inflammation, aches,
anxiety, depression, and mental disorders). Our rationale for this
approach was that medicinal plants used to treat these symptoms
could potentially show protective activity in preclinical models relevant
to PD pathogenesis. The choice of inflammation as a non-motor
symptom for this study is based on evidence that (i) peripheral
inflammation can play a role in perturbations of the innate immune
response in the brain, including microglial activation; and (ii) peripheral
anti-inflammatory compounds can mitigate these perturbations
(Couch et al., 2011; Sanchez-Guajardo et al., 2013). Mental health
conditions including anxiety and depression were considered relevant
because therapies for these disorders likely cross the blood brain
barrier (BBB) to target various regions of the brain, including the
midbrain (Chaudhury et al., 2013). Information about herbal medicines
used to treat cancers was also considered relevant based on
evidence that pathogenic mechanisms such as inflammation, oxidative
stress, and the dysregulation of certain proteins are common to both
PD and some cancers (de Rus Jacquet et al., 2014; Devine et al., 2011;
West et al., 2005). To obtain a broader perspective on relationships
between Lumbee Indians and their natural environment (Croom,
1982), we asked participants to describe memories relating to the use
of natural areas and plants for work, leisure, or social activities such as
berry picking or medicinal plant harvesting.
2.4. Identification of plant species
When available, voucher specimens were collected, assigned a
collection number, and deposited at the Purdue Kriebel Herbarium
for future reference. In the case of plants for which voucher specimens
were not available, informants were asked to identify the plants using
photographs. We examined two photographic records. The first of these
records contained photographs illustrating traditionally used plants
and was provided by the participants. The second record contained
photographs of plants and herbarium specimens (USDA Plant
Database and University of Florida Herbarium Collection Catalog)
and was used to formally identify the plant species illustrated in the
first photographic record. All plant names were verified using the
weblink www.theplantlist.org (date accessed: 04-21-2016).
2.5. Preparation of botanical extracts
Botanical extracts were prepared as described in the accompanying
article (de Rus Jacquet et al., 2017). Plant material was harvested or
obtained in dried form from Friends of the Trees Society (Hot Springs,
MT). Freshly harvested plant material was dried at 37 °C with a food
processor. To remain faithful to traditional practices, we avoided the
use of potentially destructive techniques at each step of the extraction
process. The use of water decoctions remains faithful to most traditional
practices and avoids exposure of the plant materials to organic
solvents or nontraditional extraction methods, both of which can
change the chemical composition of the extract and lead to variations
in pharmacological activity (Lapornik, 2005; Sithisarn et al., 2006). For
each sample, 10 g of plant material was extracted in 50–100 mL of
deionized water by incubating for 45 min at 50–60 °C with constant
stirring. To remove plant debris, samples were centrifuged at 19,800×g
for 30–60 min. The supernatant was then filtered through a 0.2 μm
membrane, freeze-dried, and stored at −80 °C. The samples were
protected from light during all steps of the extraction procedure.
Prior to each experiment, freeze-dried extracts were dissolved in sterile
deionized water.
2.6. Folin-Ciocalteu assay
The total polyphenolic content of the extracts was determined using
the Folin-Ciocalteu assay (Strathearn et al., 2014; Waterhouse, 2002).
A mixture of 2 μL of botanical extract or gallic acid standard, 10 μL of
Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and 158 μL of H2O was prepared in a 96-well
format and incubated for 5 min at 22 °C. Subsequently, 30 μL of
Na2CO3 (200 g/L) was added with careful mixing, and the solution
was incubated for 1 h at 22 °C. Absorbance measurements were carried
out at 765 nm with a Synergy 4 microplate reader (BioTek Instruments,
Inc.). The total polyphenol content (in %) was estimated as the gallic
acid equivalent.
2.7. HPLC-TOF-MS profiling of an elderflower extract
HPLC-TOF-MS analyses were conducted on an Agilent 6220a TOFMS,
equipped with a 1200 series HPLC (Agilent Technologies, Santa
Clara, CA) with a Waters X-Bridge column, 4.6×100 mm, 3.5 μm
(Waters, Milford, MA) using a gradient method with a mobile phase
consisting of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in H2O (A) and 0.1% (v/v) formic
acid in CH3CN (B): 0–5 min, 2% B; 14 min, 40% B; 17–18 min, 100%
B; 20–24 min, 2% B. TOF parameters included a drying gas of 10 L/
min, nebulizer pressure of 45 psi, capillary voltage of 3.5 kV, fragmentor
voltage of 80 V, and a mass range of m/z=100–3000 in both
positive and negative ion modes. The extract was analyzed at 10 mg/
mL with an injection volume of 10 μL.
2.8. Adenoviral ARE-EGFP reporter construct
An adenovirus encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein
(EGFP) downstream of the SX2 enhancer and the minimal promoter
of the mouse heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene (Alam et al., 1999) was
prepared as described in the accompanying article (de Rus Jacquet
et al., 2017). The construct, which has two antioxidant response
elements (AREs) in the SX2 enhancer and is referred to as pAd-AREEGFP-
TKpolyA, was packaged into virus via lipid-mediated transient
transfection of the HEK293A packaging cell line.
2.9. Preparation of cortical astrocytes
Cultures enriched with cortical astrocytes were prepared via
dissection of E17 embryos obtained from pregnant Sprague-Dawley
rats (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) using methods approved by the Purdue
Animal Care and Use Committee. The cortical regions were isolated
stereoscopically, and the cells were dissociated with trypsin (final
concentration, 13 μg/mL in 0.9% (w/v) NaCl). The cells were plated
in a 175 cm2 flask pre-treated with rat collagen (25 μg/mL) at a density
of ~14.5×106 cells per dish in media consisting of DMEM, 10% (v/v)
FBS, 10% (v/v) horse serum (HS), penicillin (10 U/mL), and streptomycin
(10 μg/mL). After 48 h, new media consisting of DMEM, 10%
(v/v) Nuserum, 10% (v/v) HS, penicillin (20 U/mL), and streptomycin
(20 μg/mL) was added to selectively propagate the astrocyte population
(which at this stage consisted of clusters of cells attached to the
dish) and remove unattached neurons. The media was replaced with
fresh media every 2 days until most of the astrocytes had spread out on
the plate, generally by 7 days in vitro (DIV). The astrocyte-rich culture
was passaged at least once (and no more than twice) before being used
for the described experiments.
2.10. Preparation of primary midbrain cultures
Primary midbrain cultures were prepared via dissection of E17
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
410
embryos obtained from pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (Harlan,
Indianapolis, IN) using methods approved by the Purdue Animal
Care and Use Committee (Strathearn et al., 2014; Ysselstein et al.,
2015). Briefly, the mesencephalic region containing the substantia
nigra and ventral tegmental area was isolated stereoscopically, and the
cells were dissociated with trypsin (final concentration, 26 μg/mL in
0.9% (w/v) NaCl). For experiments that involved monitoring activation
of the Nrf2 pathway (see Section 2.11), the dissociated cells were plated
in the wells of a 96-well, black clear-bottom plate (pretreated with poly-
L-lysine, 10 μg/mL) at a density of 92,650 cells per well in midbrain
culture media, consisting of DMEM, 10% (v/v) FBS, 10% (v/v) HS,
penicillin (10 U/mL), and streptomycin (10 μg/mL). After 5 DIV, the
cultures were treated with AraC (20 μM, 72 h) to slow the proliferation
of glial cells. For experiments that involved analysis of neuroprotective
activity (see Section 2.13), the dissociated cells were plated in the wells
of a 48- or 96-well, plate (pretreated with poly-L-lysine, 5 μg/mL) at a
density of 163,500 or 81,750 cells per well (respectively) in midbrain
culture media. After 5 DIV, the cultures were treated with AraC
(20 μM, 48 h) before initiating experimental treatments.
The relative percentages of neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in
the cultures were estimated at DIV =11 via immunocytochemical
analysis. The cultures were fixed, permeabilized, and blocked as
described (Strathearn et al., 2014; Ysselstein et al., 2015). After
washing with PBS (10 mM phosphate buffer, 2.7 mM KCl, and
137 mM NaCl, pH 7.4), the cells were treated for 24 h at 4 °C with
primary antibodies specific for (i) microtubule-associated protein 2
(MAP2) (chicken, 1:2000) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)
(mouse, 1:500); or (ii) MAP2 (chicken, 1:2000) and ionized calciumbinding
adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) (rabbit, 1:500). The cells were then
washed with PBS and treated for 1 h at 22 °C with (i) a goat antichicken
antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 594 (1:1000) and a goat
anti-mouse antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488 (1:1000); or (ii) a
goat anti-chicken antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 594 (1:1000) and
a goat anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488 (1:1000).
After washing with PBS, the cells that had been treated with antibodies
specific for MAP2 and Iba-1 were stained with DAPI (300 nM in PBS)
for 5 min prior to a final round of washing with PBS.
2.11. Treatment of astrocytes or mixed midbrain cultures with AREEGFP
reporter adenovirus
Activation of the Nrf2 pathway was monitored in cortical astrocytic
cultures and primary midbrain cultures using a reporter adenovirus
derived from the construct pAd-ARE-EGFP-TKpolyA. Primary cortical
astrocytes were plated on a 96-well, black clear-bottom plate (pretreated
with rat collagen, 25 μg/mL) at a density of 5000 cells/well.
After 24 h, the cells were transduced with Nrf2 reporter virus at a
multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 25. Additional experiments were
carried out with human iCell astrocytes generated at Cellular Dynamics
International (Madison, WI) via differentiation of an iPSC line that was
reprogrammed from a fibroblast source obtained from an apparently
healthy female individual, without mutations in known PD-related
genes. iCell astrocytes were plated on a 96-well, black clear-bottom
plate (pretreated with rat collagen, 25 μg/mL) at a density of 10,000
cells/well. After 24 h, the cells were transduced with Nrf2 reporter
virus at an MOI of 25. In other experiments, primary midbrain cultures
(8 DIV) prepared as described above (see Section 2.10) were transduced
with Nrf2 reporter virus at an MOI of 10.
After 48 h, the virus-containing media was removed from the
astrocytes or midbrain cultures, and the cells were incubated in fresh
media supplemented with botanical extract for 24 h. Control cells were
transduced with the ARE-EGFP virus for 48 h and then incubated in
fresh media for another 24 h, in the absence of extract (negative
control) or in the presence of curcumin (5 μM) (positive control). The
cells were incubated in the presence of Hoechst nuclear stain (2 μg/mL
in HBSS) for 15 min at 37 °C, washed in HBSS, and imaged in HBSS at
37 °C using a Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Reader (BioTek Instruments,
Winooski, VT) equipped with a 4× objective. Quantification of EGFP
and Hoechst fluorescence was carried out using the Gen5 2.05 data
analysis software (BioTek Instruments, Winooski, VT). To quantify
EGFP fluorescence, regions of interest (ROIs) were generated by the
software based on the size range (40–400 μm for astrocytes, 20–
400 μm for mixed midbrain cultures) and a designated fluorescence
intensity threshold. For each experiment, the threshold was adjusted so
that the overall fluorescence intensity in the curcumin-treated culture
was 1.5- to 2.5-fold greater than in the negative-control culture. To
quantify Hoechst fluorescence, ROIs were generated by the software
based on a size range of 10–40 μm. The fluorescence intensity threshold
was set so that most of the nuclei stained with Hoechst were
included among the detected ROIs. Finally, the number of ROIs for
EGFP was divided by the total cell number (ROIs obtained from
Hoechst fluorescence) for each treatment and normalized to the control
value to obtain a fold-change value.
2.12. UPS reporter assay
The function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) was
monitored using an adenoviral reporter construct encoding the surrogate
UPS substrate GFPu, a variant of GFP with a C-terminal fusion of
the degron CL1 (Tian et al., 2014). Under basal conditions, GFPu is
rapidly degraded by the UPS, whereas in cells with decreased UPS
function, GFPu accumulates, producing an increase in cellular fluorescence
(Bence et al., 2001). Cortical astrocytes were plated on a 96-
well, black clear-bottom plate at a density of 5000 cells/well in media
consisting of DMEM, 10% (v/v) Nuserum, 10% (v/v) HS, penicillin
(20 U/mL), and streptomycin (20 μg/mL). After 24 h, the cells were
transduced with the GFPu reporter adenovirus at an MOI of 2. After
48 h, the cells were incubated in fresh media containing elderflower
extract for an additional 24 h. Control cells were transduced with the
reporter virus for 48 h and then incubated in fresh media for another
24 h, in the absence of extract (negative control) or in the presence of
MG132 (2 μM) (positive control). The cells were incubated in the
presence of Hoechst nuclear stain (2 μg/mL in HBSS) for 15 min at
37 °C, washed in HBSS, and imaged in HBSS at 37 °C using a Cytation
3 Cell Imaging Reader equipped with a 4X objective. To quantify GFP
fluorescence, ROIs were generated by the Gen5 2.05 software based on
the cellular size range (20–400 μm) and a designated fluorescence
intensity threshold. For each experiment, the threshold was adjusted so
that a 6- to 7-fold increase in the number of ROIs above the threshold
was observed for the MG132-treated culture compared to the negativecontrol
culture. Hoechst fluorescence was quantified by generating
ROIs with a fluorescence intensity threshold as described in section
2.11. Finally, the number of ROIs for GFP was divided by the total cell
number (ROIs obtained from Hoechst fluorescence) for each treatment
and normalized to the control value to obtain a fold-change value.
2.13. Analysis of neuroprotective activity of elderflower extract in
primary midbrain cultures
In one set of experiments, primary midbrain cultures (7 DIV) were
incubated in the absence or presence of botanical extract for 72 h. Next,
the cultures were incubated in fresh media containing rotenone
(50 nM) in the absence or presence of extract for another 24 h. In a
second set of experiments, midbrain cultures were transduced with an
adenovirus encoding A53T (A53T Ad) (Ysselstein et al., 2015) at an
MOI of 15 for 72 h in the absence or presence of extract, and the cells
were then incubated in fresh media with or without extract for another
24 h. Control cultures were incubated in media without rotenone, A53T
Ad, or extract. The cultures were then fixed, permeabilized, and
blocked (Strathearn et al., 2014; Ysselstein et al., 2015). After washing
with PBS, the cells were treated for 48 h at 4 °C with primary
antibodies specific for MAP2 (chicken, 1:2000) and tyrosine hydro-
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
411
xylase (TH) (rabbit, 1:1000). The cells were then washed with PBS and
treated with a goat anti-chicken antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor
594 (1:1000) and a goat anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor
488 (1:1000) for 1 h at 22 °C. After a final round of washing with PBS,
prolong gold antifade reagent with DAPI was applied to each culture
well before sealing with a coverslip.
Relative dopaminergic cell viability was assessed by counting
MAP2- and TH-immunoreactive neurons in a blinded manner using
images taken with an automated Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Reader
equipped with a 4X objective. A minimum of 12 images were taken,
and approximately 500–1000 MAP2+ neurons were counted per
experiment for each treatment. Each experiment was conducted at
least 3 times using embryonic cultures prepared from different
pregnant rats. The data were expressed as the percentage of MAP2+
neurons that were also TH+(thus ensuring that the data were normalized
for variations in cell plating density).
Neurite length measurements were carried out on images taken
with an automated Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Reader equipped with a 4X
objective (in general these images were the same as those used to
determine dopaminergic cell viability as outlined above). Lengths of
MAP2+ processes extending from TH+/MAP2+ neurons with an intact
cell body (~90 neurons per sample) were assessed in a blinded manner
using the manual length measurement tool of the NIS Elements
software (Nikon Instruments, Melville, NY).
2.14. O2 consumption assay
O2 consumption was monitored as described previously with minor
modifications (Olofinsae et al., 2014). Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma
cells were grown in DMEM without glucose, supplemented with 15%
(v/v) Nuserum, 10 mM HEPES, 10 mM galactose, 2 mM glutamine,
1 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 U/mL penicillin, and 100 μg/mL streptomycin.
The cells were plated in a 10 cm dish at a density of 1.5×106
cells/plate. After 4 days, the cells were incubated in the absence or
presence of elderflower extract (1 μg/mL) for 19 h and then treated
with rotenone (30 nM) for 5 h. Control cells were incubated in the
absence of rotenone or extract for 24 h. The cells were harvested via
centrifugation (350×g, 5 min, 22 °C) and suspended in O2 consumption
buffer (10 mM MgCl2, 20 mM HEPES pH 7.2, 8.6% (w/v) sucrose,
0.026% (w/v) KH2PO4) at a density of 9×106 cells/mL (determined
using a hemocytometer). Cellular respiration was measured using a
Clark-type oxygen electrode attached to a voltmeter (Digital Model 10
Controller, Rank Brothers, Ltd, Cambridge, UK). The electrode was
allowed to stabilize in O2 consumption buffer for 30 min at 37 °C to
ensure air saturation. To normalize the background current, the
voltmeter was set to zero using a polarizing voltage of 0.60 V (with
the electrode disconnected). An aliquot of 4.5×106 cells was loaded into
the respiration chamber, and the sensitivity control was set to 1 V. This
setting corresponded to 100% of the O2 concentration (200×103 pmol/
mL) in the air-saturated reaction medium before the start of respiration.
The sample was constantly stirred at 840 rpm using a magnetic
stir bar located inside the chamber. Using the Pico Technology software
program (PicoTechnology, Ltd., Cambridgeshire, UK), the O2 level
remaining in the chamber at any time during respiration was automatically
logged (with 10 s intervals) as a voltage, VO2, which corresponded
to the voltage generated by the reaction of O2 with the
electrode and steadily decreased as O2 was consumed. The rate of O2
consumption was calculated as previously described using the following
formula (Herst and Berridge, 2007):
Rate of O consumption pmol s per cells
slope V s pmol mL
number of cells mL
( / 10 )= (− [ / ]) × 200 × 10 ( / )
/ (×10)
2
6
3
6
where 200×103 pmol/mL is the O2 concentration in the saturated
solution and the number of cells/mL is 9.0×106. Mean O2 consumption
rates determined from 3 independent experiments were normalized to
control values. Experiments showing a rotenone-induced reduction in
O2 consumption of less than 30% of the control value were excluded.
2.15. Analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential
Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured using tetramethylrhodamine
methyl ester (TMRM) as described previously
(Chazotte, 2011), with minor modifications. SH-SY5Y cells grown in
galactose-supplemented media as described in Section 2.14 were plated
on a 96-well, black clear-bottom plate at a density of 10,000 cells/well.
After 48 h, the media was replaced with fresh media with or without
elderflower extract (1 μg/mL). The cells were incubated for 19 h and
then exposed to rotenone (30 nM) for 5 h. Control cells were incubated
in the absence of rotenone or extract for 24 h. The cells were then
treated with TMRM (60 nM) for 20 min at 37 °C in HBSS. The media
was replaced with fresh media containing TMRM (30 nM) and Hoechst
nuclear stain (2 μg/mL in HBSS), and the cells were imaged at 37 °C
using a Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Reader equipped with a 4X objective.
Quantification of TMRM and Hoechst fluorescence was carried out
using the Gen5 2.05 software. For quantification of TMRM fluorescence,
ROIs were generated by the software based on the cellular size
range (5–40 μm) and a designated fluorescence intensity threshold.
For each experiment, the threshold was adjusted so that the rotenonetreated
cells exhibited a reduction in the number of ROIs of about 40%
compared to control cells treated with vehicle. For quantification of
Hoechst fluorescence, ROIs were generated by the software based on
a size range of 10–40 μm. The fluorescence intensity threshold was set
so that most of the nuclei stained with Hoechst were included among
the detected ROIs. Finally, the number of ROIs for TMRM was divided
by the total cell number (ROIs obtained from Hoechst fluorescence) for
each condition and normalized to the control value.
2.16. Statistical analysis
Data obtained from measurements of primary neuron viability,
mitochondrial O2 consumption rates, or mitochondrial membrane
potential were analyzed via one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's
multiple comparisons post hoc test using GraphPad Prism 6.0 (La
Jolla, CA). Prior to carrying out these ANOVA analyses, the data were
subjected to a square root transformation (in the case of percentage
neuron viability data) or a log transformation (in the case of O2
consumption rate data or membrane potential data) to conform to
ANOVA assumptions. Neurite length data were subjected to a log
transformation to account for skewness in the data. The log-transformed
data were analyzed using an approach that accounts for (i) the possibility
of multiple neurites arising from a single cell, and (ii) comparison across
experiments conducted on different days. Log-transformed neurite
lengths for multiple treatment groups were compared using a general
linear model implemented in the GLM procedure of SAS Version 9.3
followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons post hoc test (Cary, NC). For
measurements of ARE-EGFP or GFPu fluorescence, fold-change values
were log-transformed, and the transformed data were analyzed using
GraphPad Prism 6.0 via a one-sample t-test to determine whether the
mean of the log(fold-change) was different from the hypothetical value of
0 (corresponding to a ratio of 1) (Motulsky, 2014). Unless otherwise
specified, ‘n’ values listed in the figure legends correspond to the number
of biological replicates (i.e. independent experiments involving cultures
prepared at different times).
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Cultural identity
Similar to other Native American tribes, Lumbee Indians share an
ancestral heritage of rituals and ceremonies. The Cultural Center,
located in Red Banks, NC, is a site for cultural and religious gatherings
where a number of traditional rituals continue to be performed by
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
412
elders and holy men. During our interviews, respondents provided
information relating to the central role of the natural environment in
providing sacred plants to perform various ritualistic activities
(Supplementary Table 1). In addition, Lumbee participants documented
traditional uses of herbal products for the preparation of various
artifacts and tools as summarized in Supplementary Table 2. Finally,
our results highlight the importance of wild or domesticated foods
harvested in Lumbee traditions (Supplementary Table 3), and participants
mentioned the harvesting of plants as a way to socialize and
strengthen familial and neighborhood relationships.
3.2. Lumbee traditional medicine
This documentation of Lumbee traditional medicine involved interviews
of three categories of participants, as observed in other studies of
Lumbee Indians (Croom, 1982). Participants of the first category are
traditional healers who learned herbal medicine from their ancestors or
received the “gift” of healing and practice a combination of herbal and
Christian faith healing. Information provided by one healer highlighted
the importance of praying rituals in Lumbee traditional medicine,
consistent with the results of a previous study (Boughman and
Oxendine, 2004) and with practices reported by other Native
American groups including the Pikuni-Blackfeet Indians (de Rus
Jacquet et al., 2017). Participants of the second category undertake a
combination of medicinal practices inherited from their family or
learned from herbal books and health stores. Participants of the third
category do not necessarily practice herbal medicine themselves but
have learned some customs from their parents and grandparents.
3.2.1. Medicinal plants used to treat PD-related symptoms
Healers and local members of the Lumbee tribe provided information
that enabled us to document the medicinal uses of plants, with a
focus on plants used to treat PD-related symptoms. The uses of 72
medicinal plants, including 32 plants used to treat PD-related symptoms
(Table 1, Supplementary Table 4, Supplementary Fig. 1) and 40
plants used to treat other disorders (Supplementary Table 5), were
documented. The plants are described along with the ailments treated,
plant parts used, and modes of administration. The preparation of
herbal teas is a common form of administration, although the use of
capsules from herbal stores is occasionally proposed as an alternative
when the required plant material is not available. Most of the
documented plants are available locally and harvested from neighboring
forests and ditches, although participants mentioned a reduction in
the number and variety of medicinal plants found locally, potentially
resulting from urban and economic development (Alig, 2010). In
addition to herbal preparations, Lumbee Indians reported the use of
natural products such as vinegar, turpentine, healing water, and honey
to increase their therapeutic options (Supplementary Table 6).
The most common PD-related treatments documented include
medicines with anti-inflammatory effects (7 plants), analgesic properties
(8 plants), and sedative activities (9 plants). Anti-inflammatory
plants include cabbage, collards, horsemint, mullein, pineapple, sage,
and white oak. Cabbage and collards are both from the Brassicaceae
family, and chemical profiling of several plant species in this family has
revealed the presence of health-promoting natural products such as
organosulfur compounds (e.g. sulforaphane and other isothiocyanates),
quercetin, kaempferol, and several anthocyanins (mostly cyanidin
derivatives) (Chun et al., 2004; Liang, 2006; J.Y. Lin et al., 2008).
Interestingly, these compounds were found to exhibit anti-inflammatory
effects via modulation of pro-inflammatory factors. Sulforaphane
was shown to alleviate LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages, an
effect that was likely mediated through modulation of NFκB and Nrf2
(Heiss et al., 2001; W. Lin et al., 2008). Chang liver cells and murine
macrophages incubated with quercetin or kaempferol exhibited a
down-regulation of pro-inflammatory factors such as NFκB, inducible
nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and/or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
(Garcia-Mediavilla et al., 2007; Hamalainen et al., 2007). In addition,
cyanidin and cyanidin derivatives interfered with LPS-induced inflammation
in RAW 264.7 cells and carrageenan-induced inflammation in
air pouches in BALB/c mice (Min et al., 2010). An extract prepared
from mullein (Verbascum sp.) and several fractions and pure compounds
derived from the extract were shown to mitigate inflammation
in a mouse model of paw edema and in LPS-stimulated macrophages
(Dimitrova et al., 2012). In another study, harpagoside, a biologically
active iridoid glycoside isolated from Verbascum sp., and an extract
prepared from Verbascum phoeniceum were found to alleviate inflammation
and the production of COX-1 and COX-2 in mouse models of
acute and chronic inflammation (Dimitrova, 2013). Ilwensisaponin C, a
compound found in Verbascum sp., was found to have a significant
anti-inflammatory effect in mouse models of inflammation (Akkol
et al., 2007). The anti-inflammatory effects of the pineapple plant
and its protease cocktail bromelain have been studied and validated in
animal models of inflammatory diseases and in clinical studies
(Darshan and Doreswamy, 2004; Hale et al., 2005; Maurer, 2001).
Finally, the plant extract of sage as well as its constituents carnosol and
ursolic acid were reported to have anti-inflammatory activities by
inhibiting the Croton oil-induced ear edema in mice (Baricevic et al.,
2001) and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory factors in LPSstimulated
macrophages (Lo et al., 2002; Mueller, 2010).
Plants used for their analgesic effects include arnica, boneset,
comfrey, mullein, potatoes, and white oak. The analgesic effects of
arnica have been described (Ahmad, 2013), and randomized doubleblind
trials revealed that preparations of this plant exhibited a powerful
analgesic effect in patients suffering from osteoarthritis but did not
mitigate after-surgery pain (Knuesel et al., 2002; Stevinson et al., 2003;
Widrig et al., 2007). Mullein (Verbascum sp.) is composed of several
bioactive compounds including the phenylethanoid glycoside verbascoside,
and a Verbascum extract and verbascoside were found to have
analgesic properties in a carrageenan-induced hind paw edema mouse
model (Akdemir et al., 2011).
Plants used for their sedative effects include lemon balm, maypop,
mint, peach, peppermint, rabbit tobacco, and sage. The sedative and
calming effects of lemon balm have been validated by extensive
research in humans. Clinical studies have revealed that the administration
of lemon balm can result in self-rated “calmness”, ameliorate
the negative mood effects of stressors in adults, and alleviate the
symptoms of children suffering from restlessness and nervous dyskoimesis
(Kennedy et al., 2004, 2002; Muller and Klement, 2006).
Another medicinal plant described as having sedative properties by
Lumbee Indians is maypop, also known as passionflower (Passiflora
incarnata). The use of Passiflora sp. for its sedative effects has been
reported in multiple historical and contemporary ethnopharmacological
studies (Dhawan et al., 2004). Passiflora incarnata is composed of
a variety of bioactive chemicals such as flavonoids (e.g. quercetin,
kaempferol, apigenin, and luteolin) and indole alkaloids (Dhawan
et al., 2004). Data from animal studies support the idea that
Passiflora extracts have anxiolytic and sedative effects, potentially via
a mechanism involving stimulation of the GABAA receptor (de Castro
et al., 2007; Deng et al., 2010; Elsas et al., 2010; Lolli et al., 2007).
Clinical studies of Passiflora extracts have revealed a significant
improvement in sleep quality (Ngan and Conduit, 2011) and a
reduction of preoperative anxiety in patients (Movafegh et al., 2008).
The sedative properties of leaves and bark of Prunus persica (peach)
reported by the Lumbee Indians were previously described in studies of
traditional medicine practices in India (Nadkarni, 1976) and Pakistan
(Wazir, 2004). Finally, extracts prepared from sage (Salvia sp.) were
reported to have significant sedative and anxiolytic activities in rodents
(Imanshahidi and Hosseinzadeh, 2006; Rabbani et al., 2005) and to
ameliorate anxiety and enhance calmness in healthy participants of a
double-blind human study (Kennedy et al., 2006).
Plants used for both analgesic and sedative effects include catnip
and elderberry flowers and berries. Analyses of an essential oil
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
413
Table 1
Medicinal uses of plants relevant to PD-related symptoms.
Scientific name (Family), Local
name
Medicinal use Part used Mode of use
Acorus sp. (Acoraceae), Calamus Anti-cancera Rhizomes Make a tea with hot, non boiling water. The rhizome
can also be eaten fresh
Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.
(Bromeliaceae), Pineapple
Anti-inflammatorya Fruits The fruit is used to treat inflammation
Arnica sp. (Asteraceae), Arnica Analgesica Roots Make a tea of roots and use as a wash for backache. It
can be dangerous if taken internally. Use it as a rub or
salve for sore muscle, sprains etc.
Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae),
Cabbage
Cleanse, mild laxative, anti-inflammatory,a treatment for
glaucoma, pneumonia and breast feeding
Leaves Make chow. The recipe can vary but the main
ingredients are cabbage, pepper and tomatoes made in
vinegar. It is food and medicine. For glaucoma, place
clean and fresh leaves (no pesticides) over the eye. For
pneumonia, place clean and fresh plant on the chest.
Leave overnight, the leaves will turn yellow. Cabbage
can also be used if lactation problems (due to
inflammation)
Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae),
Collards
Congestion, antipyretic, anti-inflammatorya, treatment
for glaucoma and pneumonia
Leaves Place the leaves on the body. To treat a fever, take fresh
collards leaves, add vinegar and place/tie around the
areas of the body to heal. It will draw the fever out. For
glaucoma, place a clean and fresh plant (no pesticides)
over the eye. For pneumonia, place a clean and fresh
plant on the chest. Leave overnight, the leaves will turn
yellow
Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae), Turnip Anti-cancer,a cold medicine Roots Make a turnip soup (food): roots of the turnip (some
people use the greens), add cornmeal and pepper. Make
a soup and drink 1 cup/day. The broth is the most
important. It can be canned for conservation
Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), Red
pepper, Cayenne
Astringent, treatment for breast cancer,a women
medicine, stimulanta
Fruits and seeds Use capsules or power. Cayenne pepper is said to
reduce the menstrual flow without stopping it
Diospyros virginiana L. (Ebenaceae),
Persimmons
Anti-cancer,a cough and asthma medicines Bark To treat coughs and asthma, make a syrup. Clean
persimmon bark, red oak bark and wild cherry bark and
boil in water. Strain and cook the juice with brown
sugar to make the syrup
Eupatorium perfoliatum L.
(Asteraceae), Boneset
Analgesic,a cold medicine, antipyretic, stomachache – Make a tea of boneset to treat various ailments
Hypericum perforatum L.
(Hypericaceae), St John's Wort
Antidepressanta St John's Wort is used for its antidepressant properties
Lavandula sp. (Lamiaceae), Lavender Soporifica Flowers Make a tea of lavender flowers for a soporific effect
Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae),
Lemon balm
Sedativea Leaves The leaves of lemon balm are used as a calming tea. The
leaves are not boiled but infused in hot water
Mentha × piperita L. (Lamiaceae),
peppermint
Cough and cold medicine, soporifica, digestive disorders,
energizera, colon cleansing, sedativea, oxygenates the
bloodstream
Candy, Essential
oil
To treat a cough or induce sleep, take a 1 peppermint
candy stick, lemon juice and let it sit in liquor. Take one
teaspoon/day for 2–3 days. To treat a cold, take a large
peppermint stick, moonshine and lemon juice. Cut the
peppermint and add moonshine to fill half a jar. Add 1/
4 of honey and 1/4 of lemon. For digestive disorders
such as stomachaches, rub essential oil on the stomach
but be careful not to touch your eyes. Peppermint is also
indicated to increase production of digestive juices
Mentha sp. (Lamiaceae), Mint Sedativea, stomach disorders Leaves Mint leaves are used to relieve nervousness and
stomach disorders
Monarda fistulosa L. (Lamiaceae),
Horsemint
Backache, chills, antipyretic, anti-inflammatorya Leaves Collect and crush fresh horsemint leaves to prepare a
maceration in cold water
Morus sp. (Moraceae), Mulberry Antihelmintic, tonica Roots, Fruits To eliminate kingworms and tapeworms or in case of
weakness, drink root tea. To lower a fever, eat the fruits
Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae), Catnip Colic, thrush, flu and cold medicine, soporific,a
treatment for measles and mumps, sedative,a analgesic,a
stomach disorders, antiemetic
Leaves, Stems For a colic or thrush, boil the leaves and stems until it
turns a color. One can also make a tea of leaves. This
preparation can be used for children. Capsules from the
health store can also be taken, but it was not specified if
capsules are suitable for children
Passiflora incarnata L.
(Passifloraceae), Maypop
Heart medicine, nervine hypotensive, mild sedativea Flowers, Fruits Make a tea of flower or fruit
Prunus persica (L.) Stokes (Rosaceae),
Peach
Inflamed bladder, laxative, sedative,a cleanse Bark, Skin of the
fruit or leaves
Peach bark has a smoothing effect on the nerves. For a
cleansing effect, make a tea of the dried peach skin and
drink one cup per day. This recipe works for most fruit
trees e.g. strawberries. Cleanse four times a year
Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (L.)
Hilliard & B.L.Burtt (Asteraceae),
Rabbit tobacco
Treatment for cold and cramps, antipyretic, mild
sedative,a treatment for pneumonia and sore throat,
upset stomach
Leaves, Flowers For a cold, boil and drink one or two cups until cured.
Add sweet if necessary for the taste. For colds, fever and
flu, collect rabbit tobacco stems and pine needles from
the woods. Wash thoroughly and boil in a pint of water
for about 10 min. Drink one cup a day until healthy. A
participant indicated to add honey to taste and some
whiskey to the preparation. Another participant
suggested the use of pine tops alone
(continued on next page)
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414
Table 1 (continued)
Scientific name (Family), Local
name
Medicinal use Part used Mode of use
Quercus virginiana Mill. (Fagaceae),
White oak
Diarrhea, anti-inflammatory,a analgesica Bark To treat bleeding hemorrhoids and diarrhea, boil the
bark and drink the preparation
Rosmarinus officinialis L. (Lamiaceae),
Rosemary
Good for nerves,a stimulant,a treatment for upset
stomach, hair care medicine
Leaves Drink a tea of the stem and leaves
Salvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), Sage,
Common sage
Anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory,a cleanse, skin
infection, cough and cold medicine, memory
strengthener,a sedative,a women medicine, treatment for
ulcer
Leaves Boil the leaves to make a tea for diabetes. For
inflammation and skin infection, drink 4 cups a day of
tea leaves until healed. For a cleansing effect, boil the
leaves and inhale the steam (leaves can also be burned).
To treat coughs, colds and congestions, peel and shred
fresh ginger (2 tablespoons). Add one leaf of fresh sage
from the garden. Boil and add honey for taste. Sage
leaves tea is a memory strengthener and sedative. It is
also a women medicine used to treat menopause
symptoms such as hot flashes. To treat ulcers, make a
tea of leaves by pouring hot water and drink half a cup 3
times a day until relieved
Sambucus nigra L. (Adoxaceae), Elder,
Elderberry
Cold medicine, analgesica, sedativea, used to remove
freckles and whiten skin, respiratory problem, anticancera
Flowers or
berries
Make a tea of flowers or berries. For skin cancer, soak
the flowers in witch hazel for 7 days and apply as a
lotion or make a cream
Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees
(Lauraceae), Sassafras
Anxiety treatmenta, blood purification, cleanse, cold
medicine, anti-diabetes, treatment to reduce blood
sugar, antidepressanta, tonica, treatment for measles,
kidney problems and upset stomach, anti-rheumatic,
sores, antiseptic, strengthen the immune system
Roots To treat anxiety, use the root of sassafras. For blood
purification or cleansing, make a tea of the root or the
inner part of the root. The tea can be taken for
breakfast. To treat a cold, make a tea of roots or inner
part of the roots. It can be taken for breakfast, and
honey can be added to taste. Alternatively, one can
make a syrup by adding onions and honey. Two
tablespoons of syrup are taken at night. For diabetes
and to control the blood sugar, drink 8 ounces of tea
morning and evening as long as needed. Sassafras roots
are also used to treat depression. To give energy and
treat measles, make a tea of roots and drink anytime.
For kidney problems, drink 8 ounces of a tea of roots
morning and evening as long as needed. For upset
stomach, dry the roots in the sun. Cut the dried roots
and boil in a pot. Filter with a cheesecloth and add
sugar, stir and drink 1 cup 2/3 times a day for 1 week if
bad stomach. The dosage varies from participants, it
has also been suggested to consume one cup a day for
two days. To treat rheumatisms, sores and to use as
antiseptic, use the inner part of the root
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
(Asteraceae), Milk thistle
Good for nerves,a protects kidney, brain and other
tissues from chemical toxins, stimulanta
Leaves Drink a tea of the leaves
Solanum tuberosum (Solanaceae),
Potato
Analgesica Tuber To relieve a sore on legs, take white potatoes and cut in
half. Put the cut half on the skin until it dries
Symphytum officinale L.
(Boraginaceae), Comfrey
Assist torn flesh to grow back together, analgesic,a
treatment for wounds
Leaves For analgesic properties, make a paste or soak the
comfrey leaves and wrap around the painful area
Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex
F.H. Wigg. (Asteraceae), Dandelion
Digestive disorders, tonica Roots, Leaves To treat heartburns, drink a tea of roots. A tonic is
prepared by making a tea of leaves
Vaccinium sp. (Ericaceae), Blueberries Anti-cancera, anti-diabetes Berries, Leaves For cancer and diabetes, eat the berries in small
amounts, or about one cup a day for diabetes. To treat
diabetes, a tea of leaves can also be made, and patients
drink one cup a day, twice a month
Valeriana officinalis L. (Caprifoliaceae),
Valerian
Soporifica Roots The roots of Valerian are used to induce sleep
Verbascum thapsus L.
(Scrophulariaceae), Mullein
Asthma, treatment for respiratory disorders, arthritis
and gout, analgesic,a anti-inflammatory,a blood
purification, treatment for headaches
Leaves, Roots To treat asthma and respiratory complaints, make a
poultice with the whole leaves. Also can make powder of
dried leaves, fill up capsules from health store and take
twice a day. Drink enough water with the pills to avoid
acid reflux. Alternatively, smoke the dried leaves or
prepare a medicine using one cup of common juniper
berries, mullein, parsley leaves and pennyroyal. For
coughs, boil the dried roots and make sweetened syrup
and give to children. To treat arthritis, chop the leaves
and stuff a jar. Fill with green alcohol, massage the
joints when painful. To prepare a gout treatment, boil
the roots and make a tea. You can also boil the leaves
and filter with cheesecloth: you then apply the boiled
leaves on the area. To relieve pain or inflammation,
make a paste of leaves, soak or boil the leaves and wrap
around the affected area. The leaves are also prepared
as a tea for blood purification and headaches
a PD-related uses.
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
415
prepared from Nepeta cataria (catnip) or Nepeta pogonosperma in
rodent models revealed both anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive
effects, possibly due to the presence of the iridoid nepetalactone (Ali
et al., 2012; Ricci, 2010). Extracts prepared from elderflower contain
high levels of quercetin, kaempferol, and their derivatives (Christensen,
2008; Mikulic-Petkovsek et al., 2015), and these polyphenols were
found to have antinociceptive properties in several animal models of
pain (De Melo et al., 2009; Filho et al., 2008; Kaur et al., 2005).
Moreover, extracts prepared from elderberries are highly enriched in
anthocyanins (Lee and Finn, 2007), and anthocyanin-rich extracts were
reported to exhibit antinociceptive activities (Tall et al., 2004; Torri
et al., 2007).
Interestingly, some of the botanicals documented in this article
were also described in our study of Pikuni-Blackfeet traditional
medicine (de Rus Jacquet et al., 2017). Notably, Arnica sp.,
Hypericum perforatum, Mentha x piperita, Sambucus sp., and
Valeriana sp. were reported by both the Pikuni-Blackfeet and
Lumbee tribes as being used to treat PD-related symptoms. In addition,
Allium sp. and Filipendula ulmaria were documented in our study of
Lumbee traditional medicines as being used to treat symptoms
unrelated to PD, whereas these botanicals were reported by the
Pikuni-Blackfeet Indians and other tribes as being used to treat PDrelated
symptoms (de Rus Jacquet et al., 2017).
3.3. Neuroprotective activities and mechanisms of action of medicinal
plants used to treat PD-related symptoms
3.3.1. Study design
We selected a total of 8 medicinal plants for extraction and further
analysis based on their ethnopharmacological use and their availability
at the time of the study. The selected botanicals were: catnip (sedative,
analgesic), elderflower (analgesic, sedative, anti-cancer), mullein (analgesic,
anti-inflammatory), passionflower (mild sedative), peach bark
and leaves (sedative), rabbit tobacco (sedative), rosemary (good for
nerves, stimulant), and sassafras (anxiety, depression, tonic) (Table 1).
As outlined in Section 3.2.1, these medicinal plants and their chemical
constituents were described in this study and others as being used to
treat symptoms related to PD as defined in the Materials and Methods.
In particular, elderflower was described as ‘good for everything’ by the
Pikuni-Blackfeet Indians (de Rus Jacquet et al., 2017), and it was
described as an analgesic, sedative, and anti-cancer remedy by the
Lumbee Indians. Thus, it was selected as a plant candidate because of
its documentation in our studies of both tribes and because of its high
polyphenol content. At the time of the study, Sambucus caerulea, but
not Sambucus nigra, was available and was therefore selected for
further analysis.
The 8 medicinal plants outlined above were screened for the ability
to activate the cellular antioxidant response mediated by Nrf2 in
cortical astrocytes. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates the
expression of more than 200 genes encoding cytoprotective proteins
involved in the cellular antioxidant response and the production of
phase II detoxification enzymes (Kumar et al., 2014). In unstressed
cells, Nrf2 is sequestered in the cytoplasm by Kelch-like ECH-associated
protein 1 (Keap1) and targeted for degradation by the UPS
(Bryan et al., 2013). However, under conditions of oxidative stress,
Keap1 becomes modified, resulting in Nrf2 stabilization and translocation
to the nucleus where it binds the antioxidant response element
(ARE) in the 5′ flanking region of its target genes (Erlank et al., 2011;
Kumar et al., 2014; Satoh et al., 2013). In the brain, Nrf2 is most active
in astrocytes, and the Nrf2-mediated expression of astrocytic enzymes
involved in glutathione synthesis promotes neuronal antioxidant
responses via the production of glutathione metabolites that are taken
up and reassembled by neighboring neurons (Shih et al., 2003).
Multiple lines of evidence suggest that activation of the Nrf2/ARE
pathway leads to increased neuronal survival in toxin-related and
genetic models of PD (Chen et al., 2009; Gan et al., 2012; Kumar et al.,
2012). Accordingly, the extract that showed the most robust activation
of the Nrf2-mediated response was further examined for its ability to
alleviate neurotoxicity in primary midbrain cultures exposed to two
PD-related insults, rotenone and aSyn-encoding adenovirus.
3.3.2. Identification of botanical extracts that activate Nrf2/ARE
signaling
The panel of 8 medicinal plants described above was examined for
the ability to activate Nrf2 signaling using a fluorescence-based
reporter assay. Primary cortical astrocytes were transduced with a
reporter adenovirus encoding EGFP downstream of an enhancer
element encompassing two AREs and the HO-1 minimal promoter.
Astrocytes treated with water extracts of catnip leaves, elderflower,
mullein leaves, and rosemary leaves exhibited an increase in EGFP
fluorescence compared to untreated cells, suggesting that these extracts
induced activation of Nrf2 signaling (Fig. 1). An increase in Nrf2-
mediated transcription was also observed in human astrocytes derived
from iPSCs (Fig. 2A), and a trend towards such an increase was
observed in astrocytes in primary neuron-glia cultures from rat
midbrain (Fig. 2B), after incubation of the cells in the presence versus
the absence of the elderflower extract. In contrast, primary cortical
astrocytes treated with passionflower leaves, peach bark, peach leaves,
rabbit tobacco whole plant, or sassafras roots did not exhibit a
significant increase in EGFP fluorescence (Fig. 3).
To our knowledge this is the first report of Nrf2 activation by a
rosemary extract in primary astrocytes, or by a catnip, elderflower, or
mullein extract in any cellular context. A number of botanicals such as
green tea and extracts prepared from garlic, broccoli or rosemary have
been shown to modulate the Nrf2/ARE pathway, an activity largely
attributed to the polyphenolic constituents of these extracts (Colin-
Gonzalez et al., 2012; de Rus Jacquet et al., 2017; Kraft et al., 2004;
McWalter et al., 2004; Na and Surh, 2008; Satoh et al., 2013; Yan et al.,
2015). The total polyphenolic content (determined with a Folin-
Ciocalteu assay) was found to be highest in the extracts prepared from
elderflower, peach bark, and rosemary (Table 2). Two of these extracts
(rosemary and elderflower) exhibited the highest degree of activation of
the Nrf2-mediated response in our primary screen, whereas the third
extract (prepared from peach bark) showed no activity in this assay.
Accordingly, we infer that the total polyphenolic content and chemical
profile are both important factors that determine the ability of an
extract to activate Nrf2 signaling.
A rosemary crude extract was previously shown to activate the
Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response in a cell culture model of colon
cancer (Yan et al., 2015). Moreover, a number of phenolic compounds
present in rosemary extract, including the terpenes carnosic acid and
carnosol and the phenolic acid rosmarinic acid, are potent activators of
the Nrf2/ARE pathway (Jin et al., 2013; Martin et al., 2004; Satoh
et al., 2013). Chemical profiling of aerial parts of mullein (Verbascum
salviifolium) revealed the presence of several polyphenolic compounds
including luteolin glucosides, apigenin glucosides, and chrysoeriol
glucosides (Tatli et al., 2008), some of which have been shown to
activate the Nrf2 pathway (Huang et al., 2013; Song and Park, 2014).
However, the presence of these polyphenols seems to vary among
Verbascum species (Dalar et al., 2014).
An HPLC-TOF-MS analysis of the elderflower extract revealed the
presence of 15 major components that were identified or tentatively
identified by their masses, UV maxima, and information in the
literature about compounds reported to be elderflower constituents
(Table 3). Most of these compounds (8 out of 15) were flavonoid
glycosides, including six derivatives of isorhamnetin. Many of these
polyphenolic constituents were reported to promote the Nrf2/ARE
antioxidant response (as outlined in detail below) and could individually
or synergistically activate Nrf2 signaling in our cellular models.
Chlorogenic acid and extracts with high amounts of this phytochemical
have been shown to activate the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and
transcription of target genes such as NQO1 in cell culture systems
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
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(Feng et al., 2005; Kim et al., 2012). Epicatechin, a ubiquitous flavanol
found in a variety of foods and herbal remedies such as cocoa and tea
(Khokhar and Magnusdottir, 2002; Sanchez-Rabaneda et al., 2003),
was reported to activate cytoprotective and antioxidant responses via
modulation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway in a brain ischemia model (Shah
et al., 2010) and in cortical astrocytes (Bahia et al., 2008). Quercetin
and its metabolite isorhamnetin were shown to increase Nrf2-dependent
expression of HO-1, NQO1, and GCL in cell culture models
(Tanigawa et al., 2007; Yang et al., 2014). Our study was focused on the
neuroprotective activity of a crude elderflower extract, based on the fact
that traditional herbal medicines are taken as crude preparations. It is
hypothesized that the synergistic activity of compounds in a crude
extract can potentially enhance individual activities (Wagner, 2011;
Williamson, 2001). In support of this idea, quercetin and kaempferol
were reported to act synergistically to activate the cellular antioxidant
response in HepG2-C8 cells (Saw et al., 2014).
Although the extract prepared from peach bark contained high
levels of total polyphenols, it did not activate Nrf2 signaling in our
assay. The major polyphenolic constituents of the peach bark extract
likely consisted of high-molecular-weight polymerized polyphenolic
species such as proanthocyanidins (PAC) (condensed tannins) (Jerez
et al., 2006; Saha et al., 2012; Tanaka et al., 2008), and our findings
suggest that these phytochemicals lack the ability to induce Nrf2-
mediated transcription in cortical astrocytes (although a previous study
revealed that some PAC can activate Nrf2-signaling (Chen et al.,
2015)). Collectively, these observations highlight the fact that the
specific polyphenolic composition of an extract, and not necessarily
its total polyphenolic content, is critical for the extract's ability to
activate signaling through the Nrf2/ARE pathway.
In summary, we identified four botanical extracts used by the
Lumbee Indians to treat PD-related symptoms with the ability to
induce up-regulation of Nrf2 signaling in cortical astrocytes. One of
Fig. 1. A subset of botanical extracts activate the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response in rat cortical astrocytes. Rat primary cortical astrocytes were transduced with an ARE-EGFP reporter
adenovirus and incubated in the presence of botanical extract. Control cells were transduced with the reporter virus and incubated in the absence of extract. Graphs show an increase in
EGFP fluorescence (fold change relative to control) in astrocytes treated with extract prepared from catnip leaves (A), elderflower (B), mullein leaves (C), or rosemary leaves (D).
Representative images show an increase in fluorescence in astrocytes treated with elderflower extract (E). The data in (A-D) are presented as the mean ± SEM; n =2–5; *p < 0.05 versus a
predicted ratio of 1; log transformation followed by one-sample t-test. Scale bar in E, 300 μm.
Fig. 2. An elderflower extract activates the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response in human astrocytes and shows a trend towards activating this response in rat mesencephalic cultures.
Human iPSC-derived astrocytes (A) and rat primary midbrain cultures (B) were transduced with an ARE-EGFP reporter adenovirus and incubated in the presence of elderflower extract.
Control cells were transduced with the reporter virus and incubated in the absence of extract. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n =3–7; *p < 0.05 versus a predicted ratio of 1;
log transformation followed by one-sample t-test.
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
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these extracts, prepared from elderberry flowers, also activated (or
showed a trend towards activating) Nrf2-mediated transcription in
human astrocytes derived from iPSCs and in astrocytes in mixed
neuron-glia cultures from rat midbrain. The up-regulation of Nrf2
signaling by dietary and/or pharmacological means is recognized as a
potential neuroprotective strategy (de Vries et al., 2008; Kumar et al.,
2012; Satoh et al., 2013). Accordingly, we infer that polyphenols in the
four bioactive extracts identified in our reporter-based screen could
potentially alleviate neurodegeneration in PD via up-regulation of the
Nrf2-mediated cellular antioxidant response. In contrast, the five
extracts that are used by the Lumbee Indians to treat PD-related
symptoms but failed to activate Nrf2 signaling could potentially achieve
neuroprotective effects in PD brain via other mechanisms.
Fig. 3. A subset of botanical extracts failed to activate the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response. Primary cortical astrocytes were transduced with an ARE-EGFP reporter adenovirus and
incubated in the presence of botanical extract. Control cells were transduced with the reporter virus and incubated in the absence of extract. Graphs show no increase in EGFP
fluorescence (fold change relative to control) in astrocytes treated with extract prepared from passionflower leaves (A), peach bark (B), peach leaves (C), rabbit tobacco whole plant (D),
or sassafras roots (E). The data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n =3–6; ***p < 0.001 versus a predicted ratio of 1; log transformation followed by one-sample t-test.
Table 2
Total polyphenol content of botanical extracts.
Extract Plant part Total polyphenol content (%)a
Catnip Leaves 7.7
Elderflower Flowers 16.4
Mullein Leaves 8.9
Passionflower Leaves 3.6
Peach Bark 32.6
Peach Leaves 3.5
Rabbit tobacco Whole plant 2.8
Rosemary Leaves 12.0
Sassafras Roots 10.2
a % total polyphenols in extract (mass/mass) estimated with the Folin-Ciocalteu assay.
Table 3
HPLC-TOF-MS analysis of an elderflower extract.
Retention time (min) m/z negative mode m/z positive mode Formula Identification
7.70 164.0731 166.0909 C9H11NO2 Phenylalanine
9.17 353.0937 355.1053 C16H18O9 Neochlorogenic acid
10.16 353.0922 355.1093 C16H18O9 Chlorogenic acid
11.17 289.0766 291.0925 C15H14O6 Catechin
11.86 595.1352 597.1494 C26H27O16 Quercetin 3-O-diglycoside
12.09 639.1594 641.1771 C28H32O17 Isorhamnetin3-O-diglycoside
12.70 463.0920 465.1096 C21H20O12 Isoquercetin
13.12 549.0881 551.1112 C24H22O15 Quercetin-3-O-malonyl-glycoside
13.39 477.1080 479.1278 C22H22O12 Isorhamnetin3-O-galactoside
13.52 477.1077 479.1274 C22H22O12 Isorhamnetin3-O-glucoside
13.98 563.1030 565.1276 C25H24O15 Isorhamnetin-3-O-malonyl-galactoside
14.18 563.1020 565.1273 C25H24O15 Isorhamnetin-3-O-malonyl-glucoside
14.74 519.1175 521.1387 C17H28O18 Isorhamnetin-3-O-acetyl-glycoside
16.18 301.0392 303.0555 C15H10O7 Quercetin
17.80 315.0552 317.0729 C16H12O7 Isorhamnetin
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3.3.3. Effect of an elderflower extract on UPS function in rat primary
cortical astrocytes
Polyphenols such as those described in the previous section are
thought to activate Nrf2 signaling via a range of post-translational
mechanisms. As one possibility, they may cause a modification of
Keap1, resulting in a disruption of the Nrf2-Keap1 interaction, Nrf2
accumulation, and Nrf2 translocation into the nucleus. Some polyphenols
have been reported to engage in redox cycling reactions,
resulting in a build-up of ROS that react with key regulatory cysteine
residues of Keap1, whereas others are thought to activate Nrf2
transcriptional activity by reacting directly with Keap1 (Erlank et al.,
2011; Kumar et al., 2014; Satoh et al., 2013). As a second possible
mechanism, some polyphenols have been shown to inhibit the UPS
(Chang, 2009; Murakami, 2013; Pettinari et al., 2006). Nrf2 is
degraded by the UPS, and inhibition of the UPS has been linked to
up-regulation of Nrf2 activity and an increase in glutathione levels
(Chen and Regan, 2005; Yamamoto et al., 2007).
In the next phase of our study, we characterized the elderflower
extract, which induced the most robust up-regulation of Nrf2 signaling
in cortical astrocytes compared to the other extracts (Fig. 1), in terms
of its ability to elicit UPS inhibition as a potential mechanism for Nrf2
activation. To address this problem, we developed an assay involving
the use of a reporter adenovirus encoding GFPu, a form of GFP that is
linked to the CL1 degron sequence and is thus rapidly degraded by a
normally functioning UPS (Bence et al., 2001; Tian et al., 2014). In
cortical astrocytes expressing GFPu, inhibition of the UPS results in
accumulation of GFP and hence increased cellular fluorescence.
Primary cortical astrocytes transduced with the GFPu adenovirus
exhibited greater fluorescence following treatment in the presence
versus the absence of the elderflower extract (Fig. 4), suggesting that
polyphenols in this extract inhibit UPS activity.
This is the first report of UPS inhibition by an elderflower extract. A
number of polyphenols, including elderflower polyphenols listed in
Table 3, have been shown to interfere with UPS activity (Chang, 2009;
Shen et al., 2012). The flavonol quercetin has been shown to inhibit the
chymotrypsin-like activity of purified 20 S and 26 S proteasome in
Jurkat T cells (Chen et al., 2005). Furthermore, ester-bond containing
catechin polyphenols such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) have
been reported to inhibit proteasome activity (Nam et al., 2001). UPS
impairment by elderflower polyphenols could potentially contribute to
Nrf2 stabilization in cortical astrocytes via a mechanism involving
direct interference with UPS-mediated Nrf2 degradation. Alternatively,
inhibition of the UPS could lead to a compensatory induction of the
macroautophagy pathway (Korolchuk et al., 2010; Pandey et al., 2007).
During autophagy, the adapter protein p62 (also known as SQSTM1/
A170) forms complexes with ubiquitylated cargoes and subsequently
undergoes mTORC1-dependent phosphorylation (Ichimura et al.,
2013; Katsuragi et al., 2015). In turn, phosphorylated p62 sequesters
Keap1 to the p62/cargo complexes, which are ultimately eliminated
(along with Keap1) by autophagy, resulting in Nrf2 stabilization.
Accordingly, inhibition of the UPS by elderflower polyphenols could
induce Nrf2 activation via a mechanism involving the up-regulation of
autophagy, leading to p62-mediated Keap1 degradation.
In summary, our observation that an elderflower extract interfered
with GFPu degradation implies that polyphenols in this extract could
induce activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway by eliciting UPS inhibition.
In addition, it is possible that some elderflower polyphenols activate
Nrf2-mediated transcription via a mechanism involving Keap1 modification,
either by ROS or by the polyphenols themselves (Erlank et al.,
2011; Kumar et al., 2014; Satoh et al., 2013) (this possibility will be
addressed in future studies).
3.3.4. Effects of an elderflower extract on neurotoxicity elicited by
PD-related insults in primary midbrain cultures
Our next objective was to measure the neuroprotective activity of
the elderflower extract in a rat primary midbrain culture model. An
advantage of using midbrain cultures to monitor neuroprotection is
that they contain post-mitotic neurons, astrocytes, and microglia
(Supplementary Fig. 2), and thus they provide a native-like environment
similar to the mesencephalic region affected in PD patients. The
distribution of different cell types in the cultures shown in
Supplementary Fig. 2 (DIV =11) was as follows: neurons positive for
MAP2 staining, ~15%; astrocytes positive for GFAP staining, ~70%;
and microglia positive for Iba-1 staining, ~15%. The neuronal population
consisted of dopaminergic neurons positive for TH staining (~4–
10%) and GABAergic neurons that were stained with an antibody
specific for GABA (~90–95%) (Liu et al., 2008).
Because the elderflower extract showed a strong trend towards
activating astrocytic Nrf2 signaling in primary midbrain cultures
(Fig. 2B), we hypothesized that it should alleviate neurotoxicity elicited
by pro-oxidant insults in the same model (Lee et al., 2003; Shih et al.,
2003). To address this hypothesis, we characterized the elderflower
extract in terms of its ability to alleviate preferential toxicity to
dopaminergic neurons in midbrain cultures exposed to two PD-related
insults: (i) rotenone, an environmental toxicant epidemiologically
linked to increased PD risk (Tanner et al., 2011); and (ii) adenovirus
encoding A53T aSyn, a mutant form of aSyn that is expressed in the
brains of patients with early-onset, familial PD (Polymeropoulos et al.,
1997) and exhibits accelerated fibrillization (Conway et al., 1998) and
enhanced neurotoxicity (Ysselstein et al., 2015) compared to WT aSyn.
In one set of experiments, primary midbrain cultures were exposed
to rotenone in the absence or presence of elderflower extract. The
cultures were co-stained for MAP2, a general marker of neurons, and
TH, a specific marker of dopaminergic neurons, and scored for the
percentage of neurons co-expressing TH and MAP2, providing a
measure of relative dopaminergic neuron viability (Strathearn et al.,
2014; Ysselstein et al., 2015). The relative number of TH+ neurons was
greater in cultures treated with rotenone plus extract compared to
cultures treated with rotenone alone (Fig. 5A). Neurite length analyses
revealed a decrease in the lengths of processes extending from MAP2+/
TH+ neurons in cultures exposed to rotenone compared to control
cultures, and this decrease was attenuated in cultures treated with
rotenone in the presence of elderflower extract (Fig. 5B). Together,
these results suggest that polyphenols in the elderflower extract
alleviated dopaminergic cell death and neurite retraction in rotenonetreated
midbrain cultures.
In a second set of experiments, primary midbrain cultures were
transduced with A53T adenovirus in the absence or presence of
elderflower extract. Previous data from our lab indicated that (i) the
adenoviral transduction efficiency was > 90% for both TH+ and MAP2+
neuronal populations; and (ii) transduction of primary midbrain
cultures with the A53T virus results in selective toxicity to MAP2+/
TH+ neurons, whereas MAP2+/TH- neurons are unaffected (Ysselstein
et al., 2015). The cultures were co-stained for MAP2 and TH and
Fig. 4. An elderflower extract inhibits the UPS. Primary cortical astrocytes were
transduced with a GFPu reporter adenovirus and incubated in the presence of elderflower
extract. Control cells were transduced with the reporter virus and incubated in the
absence of extract. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n =3–4; *p < 0.05 versus a
predicted ratio of 1; log transformation followed by one-sample t-test.
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
419
scored for relative dopaminergic cell viability as outlined above. The
relative number of TH+ neurons was greater in cultures treated with
virus plus extract compared to cultures treated with virus alone
(Fig. 5C), suggesting that elderflower polyphenols interfered with
aSyn-mediated dopaminergic cell death.
These data reveal for the first time that an elderflower extract
alleviates neurotoxicity elicited by rotenone or mutant aSyn in a
primary midbrain culture model. Chemical profiling of the elderflower
extract revealed the presence of high levels of polyphenols, a class of
compounds widely studied for their health-promoting effects, including
the flavonoids quercetin (and its derivatives), isorhamnetin (and its
derivatives), and chlorogenic acid (Table 3, Fig. 6). Evidence suggests
that the consumption of polyphenols results in a reduced risk of
diseases such as PD and other neurological disorders (Bhullar and
Rupasinghe, 2013; Gao et al., 2012), presumably because many
polyphenols activate the cellular antioxidant response (Erlank et al.,
2011; Kumar et al., 2014; Satoh et al., 2013). Based on our finding that
the elderflower extract showed a strong trend towards activating
astrocytic Nrf2 signaling (Fig. 2B) and alleviated neurotoxicity elicited
by rotenone (Fig. 5A,B) and A53T (Fig. 5C) in primary midbrain
cultures, we infer that up-regulation of the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant
response could play a key role in the extract's neuroprotective activity.
In support of this idea, Nrf2-mediated transcription has been shown to
attenuate neurodegeneration triggered by rotenone or aSyn in cellular
and animal models (Gan et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2003).
Our observation that an elderflower extract alleviated rotenone- or
aSyn-mediated dopaminergic cell loss is consistent with the results of
other studies showing protective effects of polyphenol-rich extracts and
individual polyphenols against cytotoxicity elicited by rotenone (X.Z. Li
et al., 2013; Song et al., 2012; Strathearn et al., 2014) or aSyn
(Bieschke et al., 2010; Macedo et al., 2015; Takahashi et al., 2015;
Teraoka et al., 2012). Notably, catechin and quercetin have been shown
to alleviate rotenone-induced neurodegeneration in cellular and animal
models (Karuppagounder et al., 2013; Mercer et al., 2005), and
evidence suggests that chlorogenic acid, EGCG, kaempferol, and
quercetin inhibit aSyn fibrillization and cytotoxicity (Bieschke et al.,
2010; Caruana et al., 2011; Ono and Yamada, 2006; Teraoka et al.,
2012). Finally, our observation that the elderflower extract caused a
modest inhibition of UPS function (Fig. 4), together with evidence that
UPS impairment can lead to a compensatory up-regulation of macroautophagy
(Korolchuk et al., 2010; Pandey et al., 2007), suggests that
elderflower polyphenols may have interfered with A53T-mediated
neurodegeneration by stimulating the autophagic clearance of toxic
aSyn species.
In summary, our findings indicate that an elderflower extract
alleviates dopaminergic cell loss elicited by environmental and genetic,
PD-related insults. A number of the extract's polyphenolic constituents,
including quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin (as either intact
forms or metabolites), have been shown to penetrate the BBB (Ferri
et al., 2015; Ishisaka et al., 2011; Rangel-Ordonez et al., 2010).
Fig. 5. An elderflower extract alleviates neurotoxicity elicited by PD-related insults. Primary midbrain cultures were exposed to rotenone (50 nM) (A, B) or A53T adenovirus (MOI 15)
(C) in the absence or presence of elderflower extract. Control cells were incubated in the absence of rotenone, A53T, or extract. The cells were stained with antibodies specific for MAP2
and TH and scored for relative dopaminergic cell viability (A, C) or for the lengths of neurites extending from dopaminergic neurons (B). The data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n=5
(A) or n=3 (B, C); (A, C) *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, square root transformation, one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple comparisons post hoc test; (B) **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001, Tukey's
multiple comparisons post hoc test after log transformation and general linear model implementation.
Fig. 6. Chemical structures of major polyphenolic compounds identified in an elderflower extract. See also Table 3.
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
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Accordingly, we infer that the elderflower extract could potentially be of
clinical benefit in reducing PD risk or slowing neurodegeneration in the
brains of patients.
3.3.5. Effects of an elderflower extract on mitochondrial function
Evidence suggests that the neurotoxic effects of rotenone and aSyn
are related at least in part to a disruption of mitochondrial respiration
that can result in an increase in oxidative stress (Betarbet et al., 2000;
Di Maio et al., 2016; Dryanovski et al., 2013; Nakamura et al., 2011).
Accordingly, we hypothesized that the elderflower extract could protect
against neurotoxicity elicited by rotenone or A53T aSyn by alleviating
mitochondrial functional deficits triggered by these insults, in addition
to activating the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response. To address this
hypothesis, we characterized the extract in terms of its effects on
mitochondrial O2 consumption in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma
cells challenged with rotenone. The cells were conditioned to grow in
media containing galactose instead of glucose to ensure that they relied
on mitochondria for energy production via oxidative phosphorylation
and were thus sensitized to the toxic effects of rotenone (Marroquin
et al., 2007; Swiss and Will, 2011). Galactose-conditioned SH-SY5Y
cells treated with rotenone showed a mean decrease in the rate of
cellular O2 consumption of 36% compared to control cells (Fig. 7A).
Cells cultured in the presence of rotenone plus elderflower extract
exhibited an increase in the O2 consumption rate compared to cells
exposed to rotenone alone, suggesting that the extract mitigated the
rotenone-induced interference with mitochondrial respiration. In additional
experiments, we examined the effects of the extract on the
mitochondrial membrane potential (monitored using the fluorescent
cationic dye TMRM) in galactose-conditioned SH-SY5Y cells exposed
to rotenone. Cells treated with rotenone showed a 40% decrease in
TMRM fluorescence compared to control cells, and this decrease was
partially reversed in the case of cells treated with both rotenone and
elderflower extract (Fig. 7B). These results suggest that the extract
alleviated the rotenone-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane
potential.
Our data reveal for the first time that an elderflower extract can
ameliorate mitochondrial functional deficits triggered by rotenone in a
neuronal cell line. These findings are consistent with the results of
other studies (including data from our group) suggesting that plant
extracts and polyphenols can mitigate mitochondrial functional impairments
(Karuppagounder et al., 2013; Lagoa et al., 2011; Strathearn
et al., 2014). In one study, quercetin was found to induce an increase in
mitochondrial complex I activity in rotenone-treated rats
(Karuppagounder et al., 2013). Moreover, quercetin, kaempferol, and
epicatechin were reported to inhibit rotenone-induced increases in
mitochondrial H2O2 production and compete for ubiquinone binding
sites in complex I of the electron transport chain (Lagoa et al., 2011).
Data from another study revealed that expression levels of PGC1-α, a
transcriptional co-activator involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, were
increased in mouse cortical neuron cultures co-treated with quercetin
and epicatechin (Nichols et al., 2015). Collectively, these observations
suggest that elderflower polyphenols could potentially rescue mitochondrial
dysfunction by disrupting the inhibitory effects of rotenone
on complex I and/or by activating mitochondrial biogenesis pathways.
4. Conclusion
This ethnopharmacological study was aimed at (i) documenting
plants used in Lumbee traditional medicine to treat PD-related
symptoms, and (ii) obtaining insights into the relationships between
the Lumbee Indians and their local natural environment. Information
provided by the respondents suggested that although the Lumbee
Indians have adapted to modern ways of life, they continue to use local
plants and herbs for artistic, utilitarian, or medicinal purposes according
to their traditions. Sassafras, mullein and sage were the most
frequently cited medicinal plants and can easily be found locally. An
important priority for future research will be to carry out epidemiological
studies aimed at determining whether exposure to particular plant
species results in a reduced risk of developing PD.
Based on our ethnopharmacological survey, a total of 8 plant
species were selected for further characterization in terms of their
ability to modulate Nrf2/ARE signaling in a primary screen. The
botanical preparation that exhibited the most robust Nrf2 response
was an extract prepared from elderberry flowers, reported by the
Lumbee Indians to be used for analgesic, sedative, and anti-cancer
effects (medicinal properties that were classified as being relevant to a
potential neuroprotective PD treatment in our study). The elderflower
extract was found to protect dopaminergic neurons against toxicity
elicited by rotenone or A53T aSyn, and this neuroprotective activity
could involve the activation of Nrf2-mediated transcription (potentially
via UPS inhibition, resulting in Nrf2 stabilization) and/or a rescue of
mitochondrial dysfunction by the extract's polyphenolic constituents.
Future studies should be focused on elucidating other mechanisms by
which elderflower polyphenols could mitigate neurotoxicity elicited by
PD-related insults, including inhibition of aSyn aggregation (Caruana
et al., 2011; Ono and Yamada, 2006) and up-regulation of macroautophagy
as a consequence of UPS impairment (Korolchuk et al.,
2010; Pandey et al., 2007). Importantly, a number of the extract's
polyphenolic constituents or their derivatives have been shown to
penetrate the BBB (Ferri et al., 2015; Ishisaka et al., 2011; Rangel-
Ordonez et al., 2010), suggesting that they could alleviate neurodegeneration
in the brains of PD patients. Our findings provide a solid
biological rationale for the use of a crude elderflower preparation by
the Lumbee Indians as a traditional medicine to treat PD-related
Fig. 7. An elderflower extract rescues rotenone-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Galactose-conditioned SH-SY5Y cells pre-incubated in the absence or presence of an elderflower
extract (1 μg/mL) were exposed to rotenone (30 nM) in the absence or presence of extract. Control cells were incubated in the absence of rotenone or extract. (A) O2 consumption was
monitored in a suspension of cells with a Clark-type oxygen electrode attached to a voltmeter. (B) Mitochondrial membrane potential was monitored via fluorescence microscopy
imaging of cells incubated with TMRM. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM; n=4 (A) or n=6 total replicates from 3 independent experiments (B); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p <
0.0001 versus rotenone alone (-); log transformation, one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple comparisons post hoc test.
A. de Rus Jacquet et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206 (2017) 408–425
421
symptoms, and they lay the foundation for further characterization of
the extract in terms of its potential clinical applications.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by NIH grants R21 AG039718 and 1R03
DA027111 (J.-C. R), a grant from the Showalter Trust (J.-C. R.), a
fellowship from the Botany in Action program, Phipps Botanical
Garden, Pittsburgh (A. d. R. J.), and a fellowship from the Purdue
Research Foundation (A. d. R. J.). The research described herein was
conducted in a facility constructed with support from Research
Facilities Improvement Program Grants Number C06-14499 and
C06-15480 from the National Center for Research Resources of the
NIH. We thank our botanist colleagues Nick Harby (Purdue
University), Dr. Mehrdad Abbasi (Purdue University), and Dr. Jeffery
Hubbard (University of Florida) for assistance with preparing and
identifying the plant species. The authors would also like to thank all of
the participants from the Lumbee tribe for their valuable contributions
and for sharing their experiences, members of the Rochet lab for
valuable discussions, and Dr. Mitali Tambe, Dr. Vartika Mishra, Paola
Montenegro, and Aswathy Chandran for assistance with the preparation
and imaging of primary mesencephalic cultures. We are grateful to
Dr. Ning Li (UCLA) and Dr. Jawed Alam (LSU Health Sciences Center)
for providing the vector pSX2_d44_luc, and to Dr. Xuejun Wang
(University of South Dakota) for providing the GFPu reporter adenovirus.
Appendix A. Supporting information
Supplementary data associated with this article can be found in the
online version at doi:10.1016/j.jep.2017.02.021.
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