Protective effect of Hypericum perforatum Linn (St. John's wort) against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis on human neuroblastoma cells.
The medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum Linn, commonly known as St. John's wort, has been used as an antidepressant. To investigate whether St. John's wort possesses a protective effect against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, flow cytometry analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells. Cells treated with H(2)O(2) exhibited several apoptotic features, while those pre-treated with St. John's wort prior to H(2)O(2) exposure showed a decreased occurrence of apoptotic features. In addition, pre-treatment with St. John's wort inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced increase in caspase-3 enzyme activity. These results suggest that St. John's wort may exert a protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.
Jang
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoigi-dong, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
Lee
Taeck-Hyun
TH
Shin
Min-Chul
MC
Bahn
Geon-Ho
GH
Kim
Jong-Woo
JW
Shin
Dong-Hoon
DH
Kim
Ee-Hwa
EH
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide