title: Rhus javanica Linn protects against hydrogen peroxide‑induced toxicity in human Chang liver cells via attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis signaling.
abstract: Rhus javanica Linn, a traditional medicinal herb from the family Anacardiaceae, has been used in the treatment of liver diseases, cancer, parasitic infections, malaria and respiratory diseases in China, Korea and other Asian countries for centuries. In the present study, the protective effects of R. javanica ethanolic extract (RJE) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in human Chang liver cells was investigated. The cell cytotoxicity and viability were assessed using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured using respective enzymatic kits. Cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometric analysis. The protein expression levels of p53, B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3 were assessed by western blotting. Human Chang liver cells were treated with different concentrations (0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mg/ml) of RJE, and were subsequently exposed to H2O2 (30 µM). Treatment with H2O2 (30 µM) significantly induced cytotoxicity (P<0.05) and reduced the viability of the Chang liver cells. However, pretreatment of the cells with RJE (0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mg/ml) significantly increased the cell viability (P<0.001 at 0.5 mg/ml) in a concentration-dependent manner following H2O2 treatment. Furthermore, pretreatment with RJE increased the enzyme activities of SOD and CAT, and decreased the sub-G1 growth phase of the cell cycle in response to H2O2-induced oxidative stress (P<0.001 at 0.3 and 0.5 mg/ml H2O2). RJE also regulated the protein expression levels of p53, Bax, caspase-3 and Bcl-2. These results suggested that RJE may protect human Chang liver cells against oxidative damage by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes and regulating antiapoptotic oxidative stress mechanisms, thereby providing insights into the mechanism which underpins the traditional claims made for RJE in the treatment of liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chanjin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sushruta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppula
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seunghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Munjeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinseoub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaedong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Konkuk University, Chungju, Chungbuk 380‑701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mindong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002374:Catalase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D029045:Rhus / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D053148:Caspase 3