title: Protective effect of Hypericum perforatum Linn (St. John's wort) against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis on human neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoigi-dong, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Hyeon
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Taeck-Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min-Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Geon-Ho
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Bahn
authors.forename: Jong-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ee-Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide