Effect of Baicalein on t-Butylhydroperoxide-Induced Cell Injury in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of baicalein, a major flavone component of Scutellaria balicalensis Georgi, on oxidant-induced cell injury in renal epithelial cells. Opossum kidney cells, an established proximal tubular epithelial cells, were used as a cell model of renal epithelial cells and t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) as an oxidant drug model. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring the content of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation. Exposure of cells to tBHP caused cell death and its effect was dose-dependent over concentration range of 0.1~1.0 mM. When cells were exposed to tBHP in the presence of various concentrations (0.1~10 $\mu$M) of baicalein, tBHP-induced cell death was prevented with a manner dependent of baicalein concentration. tBHP induced A TP depletion, which was significantly prevented by baicalein. Similarly, tBHP-induced DNA damage was prevented by baicalein. tBHP produced a marked increase in lipid peroxidation and its effect was completely inhibited by baicalein. These results indue ate that tBHP induces cell injury through a lipid peroxidation-dependent mechanism in renal epithelial cells, and baicalein prevented oxidant-induced cell injury via antioxidant action inhibiting lipid peroxidation. In addition, these results suggest that baicalein may be a candidate for development of drugs which are effective in preventing and treating renal diseases.