title: Protective effects of aqueous extract from Acanthopanax senticosus against corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acanthopanax senticosus, classified into the family of Araliaceae, has been known for thousands of years as a remedy and is used to treat various diseases in traditional Chinese medicine system including hypertension, ischemic heart disease and hepatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the protective effects of aqueous extract from Acanthopanax senticosus (ASE) on corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity and its possible mechanisms, using PC12 cells as a suitable in vitro model of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this paper, PC12 cells were treated with 200 μM of corticosterone in the absence or presence of ASE in varying concentrations for 24 h. Then, cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The release amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was quantified using LDH assay kit. Apoptosis of PC12 cells was measured by Annexin V-FITC and PI labeling. The intracellular Ca(2+) content was tested by fluorescent labeling. The mRNA level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined by real-time RT-PCR, and the expression of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) was determined by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that treatment with 200 μM of corticosterone could induce cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. However, different concentrations of ASE (50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) significantly increased the cell viability, decreased the LDH release, suppressed the apoptosis of PC12 cells, attenuated the intracellular Ca(2+) overloading, up-regulated the BDNF mRNA level and CREB protein expression compared with the corresponding corticosterone-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that ASE exerts a neuroprotective effect on corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, which may be one of the acting mechanisms that accounts for the in vivo antidepressant activity of ASE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry Engineering, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang 422000, China.
authors.forename: Feifei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Huaqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liangzhong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiansong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shuying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liji
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yongping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D028001:Eleutherococcus; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002118:Calcium; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE); Antidepressant; Corticosterone; Neuroprotective; Neurotoxicity; PC12 cells