title: Protective effects of quercetin against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells.
abstract: Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is a major reactive oxygen species that has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. Quercetin, one of the plant flavonoids, has been reported to harbor various physiological properties including antioxidant activity. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of quercetin against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. H(2)O(2)-mediated cytotoxicity and lactate dehydrogenase release were suppressed in a quercetin concentration-dependent manner. In addition, quercetin repressed the expression of the pro-apoptotic Bax gene and enhanced that of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, quercetin effectively inhibited the activation of the caspase cascade that leads to DNA fragmentation, a key feature of apoptosis, and subsequent cell death. These results indicate the importance of quercetin in protecting against H(2)O(2)-mediated neuronal cell death. Thus, quercetin might potentially serve as an agent for prevention of neurodegenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biodefense and Regulation, Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4-20-1 Nasahara, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1094, Japan.
authors.forename: Namiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suematsu
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosoda
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimori
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D011794:Quercetin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020169:Caspases