title: Protective effects of farrerol against hydrogen-peroxide-induced apoptosis in human endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cells.
abstract: Vascular endothelium plays an important role in the physiological homeostasis of blood vessels. Endothelial injury is considered to be implicated in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Farrerol, a flavonoid considered to be the major bioactive component in a traditional Chinese herb, "Man-shan-hong", which is the dried leaves of Rhododendron dauricum L., displays many bioactive properties, including antibechic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. In this study, the protective effects of farrerol on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis in human endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cells were investigated. The results showed that farrerol significantly inhibited the loss of cell viability and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in H2O2-induced EA.hy926 cells. Meanwhile, farrerol inhibited H2O2-induced elevation in the levels of intracellular malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species, as well as cell apoptosis. Furthermore, real time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that farrerol significantly decreased the expression of Bax mRNA, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and phosph-p38 MAPK, while increasing the exporession of Bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 in H2O2-induced EA.hy926 cells. These results are the first demonstration that farrerol has protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis in EA.hy926 cells, and suggests that farrerol is a potential candidate for the intervention of endothelial-injury-associated cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Kuan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qing-Shan
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002867:Chromones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C015881:farrerol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase