Protective effects of components of the Chinese herb grassleaf sweetflag rhizome on PC12 cells incubated with amyloid-beta42.
The major ingredients of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome are β-asarone and eugenol, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and protect neurons. This study aimed to observe the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of β-asarone and eugenol, components of the Chinese herb grassleaf sweetflag rhizome, on PC12 cells. First, PC12 cells were cultured with different concentrations (between 1 × 10(-10) M and 1 × 10(-5) M) of β-asarone and eugenol. Survival rates of PC12 cells were not significantly affected. Second, PC12 cells incubated with amyloid-beta42, which reduced cell survival, were cultured under the same conditions (1 × 10(-6) M β-asarone and eugenol). The survival rates of PC12 cells significantly increased, while expression levels of the mRNAs for the pro-apoptotic protein Bax decreased, and those for the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl mRNA increased. In addition, the combination of β-asarone with eugenol achieved better results than either component alone. Our experimental findings indicate that both β-asarone and eugenol protect PC12 cells through inhibiting apoptosis, and that the combination of the two is better than either alone.
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Zi-Hao
ZH
Liang
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Xiao-Hui
XH
Cheng
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Ruan
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Han
H
Wang
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Shan-Shan
SS
Li
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Jing
J
Liu
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Guo-Ying
GY
Li
Department of Physiology, Basic Medical College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Su-Min
0000-0003-0093-8878
SM
Tian
Alzheimer's disease; Aβ grassleaf sweetflag rhizome; Chinese herbal; PC12 cells; apoptosis; drugs; eugenol; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; β-asarone