title: Punica granatum protects against oxidative stress in PC12 cells and oxidative stress-induced Alzheimer's symptoms in mice.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative brain disorder that is characterized by neuronal loss, neurofibrillary tangles, and the abnormal deposition of senile plaque and amyloid β peptide (Aβ). The brains of AD patients are under intense oxidative stress. The overproduction of Aβ leads to Aβ-associated free radical oxidative stress. In this study, the antioxidative and neuronal protective effects of Punica granatum extract were investigated against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. The ethanol extracts of P. granatum protected PC12 cells from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assays revealed a significant increase in cell viability when oxidatively stressed PC12 cells were treated with the P. granatum extract. To examine the effects of P. granatum on Aβ₁₋₄₂-induced learning and memory impairment in mice, in vivo behavioral tests were performed. Treatment with the extract of P. granatum increased step-through latency in mice injected with Aβ₁₋₄₂. The results of this study suggest that the ethanol extract of P. granatum mitigated H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells. In addition, the extract inhibited neuronal cell death caused by Aβ-induced oxidative stress and Aβ-induced learning and memory deficiency.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ju-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Hong Yon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hye Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myeong Ok
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide