Immunomodifying and neuroprotective effects of noscapine: Implications for multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders

Meric A Altinoz*, Sinan Guloksuz, Aysel Ozpinar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Noscapine is a phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid with antitussive activity. Noscapine protects oligodendroglia from ischemic and chemical injury, binds to bitter taste receptors, antagonizes the bradykinin and histaminergic systems, which may be of benefit in treatment of multiple sclerosis. Noscapine normalizes axonal transport and exerts significant therapeutic efficacy in animal models of Parkinson's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Noscapine exerts neuroprotective effects on oxygen- and glucose-deprived fetal cortical neuronal cells and reduces ischemic brain damage in neonatal rat pups. Pilot clinical studies indicated some beneficial effects of noscapine in stroke. Noscapine harbours anxiolytic activity and methyl-noscapine blocks small conductance SK channels, which is beneficial in alleviating anxiety and depression. Noscapine exerts anticholinesterase activity and acts inhibitory on the inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB, which may be harnessed in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. With its blood-brain barrier traversing features and versatile actions, noscapine may be a promising agent in the armamentarium against neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109794
Number of pages10
JournalChemico-Biological Interactions
Volume352
Early online date25 Dec 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jan 2022

Keywords

  • Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Bradykinin/metabolism
  • Histamine Antagonists/pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulating Agents/pharmacology
  • Ion Channels/drug effects
  • Mental Disorders/drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapy
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases/drug therapy
  • Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology
  • Noscapine/administration & dosage
  • Oligodendroglia/drug effects
  • Parkinsonian Disorders/drug therapy
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
  • Signal Transduction/drug effects
  • Stroke/drug therapy
  • Parkinson 's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • NF-KappaB
  • CA2+-ACTIVATED K+ CHANNELS
  • INJURY
  • RECEPTOR
  • CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID
  • NF-KAPPA-B
  • Noscapine
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • MECHANISMS
  • Alzheimer 's disease
  • INHIBITORS

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