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Protective effects of a flavonoid‐rich extract of Hypericum perforatum L. against hydrogen peroxide‐induced apoptosis in PC12 cells
Author(s) -
Zou YanPing,
Lu YanHua,
Wei DongZhi
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2852
Subject(s) - dna laddering , dna fragmentation , apoptosis , viability assay , hypericum perforatum , mtt assay , oxidative stress , pharmacology , lactate dehydrogenase , hypericum , fragmentation (computing) , hyperforin , antioxidant , flavonoid , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biochemistry , programmed cell death , biology , traditional medicine , enzyme , ecology
Hypericum perforatum L. has been used traditionally as an antidepressant for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. In a previous study, a flavonoid‐rich extract of Hypericum perforatum L. (FEHP) was prepared and its antioxidant activity was determined by a series of models in vitro . In the present study, the protective effects of FEHP against hydrogen peroxide‐induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma line PC12 cells were investigated by MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, flow cytometry analysis and DNA fragmentation assay. Following a 4 h exposure of PC12 cells to H 2 O 2 , a significant decrease in the cell viability and increased levels of LDH release were observed. However, pretreatment of PC12 cells with FEHP prior to H 2 O 2 exposure elevated the cell viability, decreased the levels of LDH release and decreased the occurrence of apoptotic cells. Also, the intensity of H 2 O 2 ‐induced DNA laddering was inhibited in a dose‐dependent fashion by a DNA fragmentation assay. These results suggested that FEHP possessed protective effects against H 2 O 2 ‐induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and FEHP might be useful in the treatment of oxidative stress‐related neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.