Ginkgolide A, B, and huperzine A inhibit nitric oxide-induced neurotoxicity.

Nitric oxide (NO) is believed to play important roles in neuronal degeneration. In this study, the effects of NO on cell growth and apoptosis have been examined in human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, was found to significantly inhibit cell growth and to induce apoptosis. The inhibitory and apoptotic activities of SNP followed a dose- and time-dependent manner. Ginkgolide A, B (GA, B), and huperzine A (Hup A), the three compounds isolated from Chinese herbs, blocked the inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis induced by SNP. The results suggest that inhibition of NO-induced neurotoxicity may be one mechanism of the above three therapeutic agents in neurodegenerative diseases.