• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.570-575
• /
• 2022

Stress breaks body balance, which can cause diverse physiological disorders and worsen preexisting diseases. However, recent studies have reported that controllable stress and overcoming from stress reinforce resilience to resist against more intense stress afterwards. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of corticosterone (CORT), a representative stress hormone against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced neuronal cell death and its underlying molecular mechanism in SH-SY5Y cells, a human neuroblastoma cell line. The decreased cell viability by H₂O₂ was effectively restored by the pretreatment with low concentration of CORT (0.03 μM for 72 h) in the cells. H₂O₂-increased expression of apoptotic markers such as PUMA and Bim was decreased by CORT pretreatment. Furthermore, pretreatment of CORT attenuated H₂O₂-mediated oxidative damages by upregulation of antioxidant enzymes via activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). These findings suggest that low concentration of CORT with eustressed condition enhances intracellular self-defense against H₂O₂-mediated oxidative cell death, suggesting a role of low concentration of CORT as one of key molecules for resilience and neuronal cell survival.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress plays a key role in neuronal cell damage, which is associated with neurodegenerative disease. The aim of present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of perilla oil (PO) and its active component, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), against hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells exposed to $250{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ for 24 h were treated with different concentrations of PO (25, 125, 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$) and its major fatty acid, ALA (1, 2.5, 5 and $25{\mu}g/mL$). We examined the effects of PO and ALA on $H_2O_2$-induced cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and nuclear condensation. Moreover, we determined whether PO and ALA regulated the apoptosis-related protein expressions, such as cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), cleaved caspase-9 and -3, BCL-2 and BAX. RESULTS: Treatment of $H_2O_2$ resulted in decreased cell viability, increased LDH release, and increase in the nuclei condensation as indicated by Hoechst 33342 staining. However, PO and ALA treatment significantly attenuated the neuronal cell death, indicating that PO and ALA potently blocked the $H_2O_2$-induced neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, cleaved-PARP, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 activations were significantly decreased in the presence of PO and ALA, and the $H_2O_2$-induced up-regulated BAX/BCL-2 ratio was blocked after treatment with PO and ALA. CONCLUSIONS: PO and its main fatty acid, ALA, exerted the protective activity from neuronal oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$. They regulated apoptotic pathway in neuronal cell death by alleviation of BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and down-regulation of cleaved-PARP and cleaved caspase-9 and -3. Although further studies are required to verify the protective mechanisms of PO and ALA from neuronal damage, PO and ALA are the promising agent against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2003

Seok-jeong (SJ) is a solution of various metal ions and numerous other organic substances produced through extraction and fermentation of herbs and soil using geo-microbes, and it has been shown to improve symptoms of senile dementia. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of SJ against neurotoxicity of cadmium in HT22 hippocampal neuron cell line. SJ significantly protected from the cadmium-induced decreased cell viability measured by MTT assay (p＜0.01). The protective effects of SJ against cadmium toxicity were confirmed through observing morphological changes using inverted microscope. Additionally, SJ significantly repressed the formation of lipid peroxidation induced by high concentration of cadmium, and likewise, significantly repressed the reduction of glutathione by cadmium in HT22 cells. Vitamin C at the concentration found in SJ did not show any protective effect against cadmium toxicity in HT22 cells, indicating that vitamin C may not have a major role in the protective mechanism of SJ. Taken together, these results suggest that SJ may be a valuable agent for the protection of cadmium toxicity on the neuronal cells, and that the mechanism of the action of SJ may be due to reduced lipid peroxidation and increased glutathione level.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.656-662
• /
• 2015

Natural products and natural product structures play a general and highly significant role in drug discovery and development process because it has various merits and potentials for new drug source that have extensive clinical experience, development time contraction, excellent stability and safety. In several neurological disorders, neuronal death and excessive activation of microglia (neuro-inflammation) are observed. A number of drug discovery-related neuronal cell death and neuro-inflammation was studied from natural products, respectively. However, until now, it has not been possible to study dual-protection molecules recorded in the Natural Product library. In the present study, using the natural product-derived library of the Institute for Korea Traditional Medical Industry, we investigated dual-protective molecules against glutamate (a classical excitatory neurotransmitter)-induced oxidative stress mediated neuronal cell death and LPS-induced excessive activated microglial cells (immune cells of the brain). Chrysophanol, extracted from Rheum palmatum, had dual-protective effects against both glutamate-induced neuronal cell death and LPS-induced NO production, triggering proinflammatory cytokines and microglia activation and resulting in neuroinflammation. Flow-cytometry analysis revealed that chrysophanol had a scavenger effect, scavenging glutamate- and LPS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neuronal and microglial cells, respectively. Based on the present study, chrysophanol may have an important protective role against neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation in the brain. The results may be helpful for studying drug development candidates for treating central nervous system disorders.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2015

This study was investigated the radical scavenging effect and the protective activity of caffeic acid (CA) against oxidative stress. CA showed strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical ( OH) scavenging activity, showing 42.00% and 87.22% at 5 μM concentration of DPPH and ·OH scavenging activity, respectively. Furthermore, we studied protective activity of CA from amyloid beta (A${\beta}$_25-35) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neuronal cell damage and neuronal inflammation using C6 glial cells. The treatment of A${\beta}$_25-35 to C6 glial cell showed declines in cell viability and high generation levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the treatment of CA increased cell viability. The treatment of 5 ${{\mu}M}$ CA led to the elevation of cell viability from 59.28% to 81.22%. In addition, the production of ROS decreased cellular levels of ROS by the treatment of CA. The treatment of LPS to C6 glial cells increased significant elevation of nitric oxide (NO) production, while CA decreased NO production significantly. The production of NO increased by the treatment of LPS to 131.08%, while CA at the concentration of 1 ${{\mu}M}$ declined the NO production to 104.86%. The present study indicated thatCA attenuated A${\beta}$_25-35-induced neuronal oxidative stress and inflammation by LPS, suggesting as a promising agent for the neurodegenerative diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the protective roles and mechanism of magnolol, from the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis against potential neurotoxin 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK)-induced neuronal cell death. For the evaluation of protective role of magnolol, we examined cell viability, apoptotic nuclei, change of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase activity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. It was found that 3-HK induces neuronal cell death in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. The reduced cell viability produced characteristic features such as cell shrinkages, plasma membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. The cells treated with 3-HK showed an increase in the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as in caspase activity. In addition, both are involved in the 3-HK-induced apoptosis. Magnolol attenuated the cell viability reduction by 3-HK in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. Optical microscopy showed that magnolol inhibited the cell morphological features in the 3-HK-treated cells. Furthermore, the increase in the ROS concentration and the caspase activities by 3-HK were also attenuated by magnolol. These results showed that magnolol has a protective effect on the 3-HK induced cell death by inhibiting ROS production and caspase activity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.68-74
• /
• 2009

Vitis amurensis (VA; Vitaceae) has long been used in oriental herbal medicine. It has been reported that roots and seeds of VA have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In the present study, the protective effect of ethanol extract from stems and leaves of VA on hydrogen peroxide (${H_2}{O_2}$) (100 ${\mu}M$)-induced neuronal cell damage was examined in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. VA (10-100 ${\mu}g$/ml) concentration-dependently inhibited ${H_2}{O_2}$-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death measured by 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. VA inhibited ${H_2}{O_2}$-induced elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration (${[Ca^{2+}]}_i$) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which were measured by fluorescent dyes. Pretreatment of VA also prevented glutamate release into medium induced by 100 ${\mu}M$ ${H_2}{O_2}$, which was measured by HPLC. These results suggest that VA showed a neuroprotective effect on ${H_2}{O_2}$-induced neuronal cell death by interfering with ${H_2}{O_2}$-induced elevation of ${[Ca^{2+}]}_i$, glutamate release, and ROS generation. This has a significant meaning of finding a new pharmacological activity of stems and leaves of VA in the CNS.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.190-198
• /
• 2007

Alzheimer's disease, a representative neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accompanied by neuronal damages. b-Amyloid peptide is considered to be responsible for the formation of senile plagues that accumulate in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. There has been compelling evidence supporting that b-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity is mediated through generation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we have investigated the possible protective effect of Rehmannia glutihosaagainst b-amyloid-induced oxidative ceil death in cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. SH-SY5Y cells treated with b-amyloid underwent apoptotic death as determined by morphological features and positive in situterminal end-labeling (TUNEL staining). Rehmannia glutinosawater extract, wine, and vinegar pretreatments attenuated b-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar exhibited maximum protective effect by increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. in addition to oxidative stress, b-amyloid-treatment caused nitrosative stress via marked increase in the levels of nitric oxide, which was effectively blocked by Rehmannia glutinosa. To further explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Rehmannia glutinosa, we assessed the mRNA expression of cellular antioxidant enzymes. Treatment of Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar led to up-regulation of heme oxygemase-1 and catalase. These results suggest that Rehmannia glutinosa could modulate oxidative neuronal cell death caused by b-amyloid and may have preventive or therapeutic potential in the management of Alzheimer's disease. Particularly, Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar can augment cellular antioxidant capacity, there by exhibiting higher neuroprotective potential.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.213-219
• /
• 2007

To develop an anti-dementia agent with potential therapeutic value in the protection of neuronal cells, we selected a water extract of Helianthus annuus seed for analysis. We measured acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in the extract, and analyzed the protective effect of the extract on neuronal cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide, or amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$, of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The result showed that the extinct exerted protective effects of 83%, 72% and 53% respectively, on cell death induced by 100M, 200M, and 500M hydrogen peroxide. Also, when 50M of amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$ was added to the cells, the extract showed a protective effect (up to 80%) on cell death. Overall, the results showed that the H. annuus extract inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the extract also strongly protected against cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide or amyloid ${\beta}-peptide$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.172-177
• /
• 2016

The phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and neuronal cell protective effect of Cirsium japonicum extract were evaluated in this study. High performance liquid chromatography mass analysis showed that C. japonicum was composed of chlorogenic acid, linarin, and pectolinarin. C. japonicum extract showed its antioxidant activity with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 567 and $130{\mu}g/mL$ by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, respectively. The total antioxidant capacities of C. japonicum via DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays were 11.32, 100.15, and $12.76{\mu}g/mL$ trolox equivalents, respectively. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of C. japonicum extract was investigated by measuring cell viability via MTT, LDH and DCF-DA assay using $H_2O_2-damaged$ PC12 cells. C. japonicum extract showed neuronal cell protective effects in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicated that C. japonicum extract has potent antioxidant and neuronal protective effects. Therefore, C. japonicum can be regarded as an effective and safe functional food resource as natural antioxidants, and may decrease the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.