[The protect effect of flavonoids from Cuscuta chinensis in PC12 cells from damage induced by H2O2].

OBJECTIVE

To study the protective effects of flavonoids from Cuscuta chinensis (CF) on oxidative stress in cultured PC12 cells and investigate the mechanism of the effects.

METHODS

The cell viability was analyzed by MTT method and the radical scavenging activity of CF was examined by DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). The morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining assay, and the apoptosis rate of PC12 cells was detected by propidium iodide stain flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTS

Application with 0.3-0.5 mM H2O2 induced a dose and time dependent viability loss in PC12 cells; Treatment with 0.5 mM H2O2 for 24 h was shown to cause nearly 50% viabliity loss and apoptosis in PC12 cells; Pretreatment with different concentrations of CF for 0.5 h increased the survival rate of PC12 cells, inhibited apoptosis induced by H2O2; CF had the activity of scavenging free radicals generated by DPPH in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

CF can protect PC12 cells against oxidative stress. The mechanism of it may be the ability of scavenging ROS and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzyme.