title: Ursolic acid regulates high glucose-induced apoptosis.
abstract: A high concentration of glucose has been implicated as a causal factor in initiation and progression of diabetic complications and there is evidence to suggest that hyperglycemia increases the production of free radicals and oxidative stress. Therefore, compounds that scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) may confer regulatory effects on high glucose-induced apoptosis. Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpene, is reported to have an antioxidant activity. We investigated the effect of UA on high glucose-induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Upon exposure to 35 mM glucose for two days, there was a distinct difference between untreated cells and cells pre-treated with 50 nM UA for 2 h in regard to cellular redox status and oxidative DNA damage to cells. UA pre-treated cells showed significant suppression of apoptotic features such as DNA fragmentation, damage to mitochondrial function and modulation of apoptotic marker proteins upon exposure to high glucose. This study indicates that UA may play an important role in regulating the apoptosis induced by high glucose presumably through scavenging of ROS.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Joo
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: In Sup
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kil
authors.forename: Chan Ik
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chae Ha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jeen-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020298:U937 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D005947:Glucose; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid