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has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Enhancing Effect of Aged Garlic Extract on Induction of Morphological Differentiation with Neurite Outgrowth in NGF-treated PC12 Cells

  AUTHORS: Kohfuku Kohda, Kei Itoh, Hitomi Goda, Keijiro Samejima, Tomoko Fukuuchi, Naoki Morihara, Kazuhiko Imamura, Yukihiro Kodera, Takami Oka

  KEYWORDS: Aged Garlic Extract; PC12 Cells; NGF; Differentiation; Neurite Outgrowth

  JOURNAL NAME: Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Vol.3 No.1, January 12, 2012

  ABSTRACT: Background: We have been searching effective compounds that can stimulate the growth and differentiation of nerve cells. We found previously that fulleren derivatives enhanced induction of morphological differentiation with neurite outgrowth in nerve growth factor (NGF)-treated PC12 cells. In the course of our further search for other effective compounds, we found the aged garlic extract (AGE) has the activity similar to fulleren. Methods: PC12 cells were used to examine the effectiveness of test compound. Results: AGE enhanced the stimulating effect of NGF to induce morphological differentiation with neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. In order to examine the active constituents of AGE, it was fractionated into several components. The activity was mainly localized in the F1 fraction that contains low molecular weight polar compounds. S-Allymercaptocysteine (SAMC) is one of the sulfur components of AGE present in F1 fraction and found to exhibit the enhancing effect similar to AGE. Conclusion: AGE had the ability to induce morphological differentiation with neurite outgrowth in NGF-treated PC12 cell and SAMC was one of its active constituents.