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Article: Inhibition of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) by Chinese herbal medicines.
- Article from:
- Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology
- Article date:
- November 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Urban & Fischer Verlag. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Summary
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) catalyzes the oxidative deamination of biogenic amines accompaned by the release of [H.sub.2][O.sub.2]. Two subtypes, MAO-A and MAO-B, exist on the basis of their specificities to substrates and inhibitors. The regulation of MAO-B activity is important in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Twenty-seven species of plants used in traditional Chinese medicines, selected from an enthnobotanical survey, were used in an investigation of their inhibitory effect on MAO-B in rat brain homogenates. The 50% aqueous methanol extracts of four active extracts, Arisaema amurense, Lilium brownii var. colchesteri, Lycium chinense, and ...