Protection of PC12 Cells against Superoxide-induced Damage by Isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholi

• 作 者: DE-HONG YU YONG-MING BAO LI-JI
• 机 构: The State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs,Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology
• 出 处: 生物医学与环境科学（英文版）
• 发表日期: 2004年期
• 关键词: Astragalus mongholicus Neuroprotection Xanthine/xanthine oxidase PC 12 cells

Objective To further investigate the neuroprotective effects of five isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus on xanthine (XA)/xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced injury to PC12 cells. Methods PC12 cells were damaged by XA/XO. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, MTT, LDH, and GSH assays were used to evaluate the protection of these five isoflavonoids. Contentsof Bcl-2 family proteins were determined with flow cytometry. Results Among the five isoflavonoids including formononetin, ononin, 9, 10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-β-D-glucoside, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside were found to inhibit XA/XO-induced injury to PCI2 cells. Their EC50 values of formononetin and calycosin were 0.05 μg/mL. Moreover, treatment with these three isoflavonoids prevented a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), while formononetin and calycosin could prevent a significant deletion of GSH. In addition, only calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside were shown to inhibit XO activity in cell-free system, with an approximate IC50 value of 10 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL. Formononetin and calycosin had no significant influence on Bcl-2 or Bax protein contents. Conclusion Neuroprotection of formononetin, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside may be mediated by increasing endogenous antioxidants, rather by inhibiting XO activities or by scavenging free radicals.