title: An isoflavonoid-enriched extract from Pueraria lobata (kudzu) root protects human umbilical vein endothelial cells against oxidative stress induced apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate vascular cell dysfunction and lead to atherosclerosis and other chronic cardiovascular diseases. The root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, also known as kudzu or Gegen (Chinese name), is one of the most important herbs in traditional Chinese medicine and has been widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteonecrosis and neurodegradation diseases. In this study, an ethanol extract from kudzu root was prepared and the in vitro protective effect of the kudzu root extract (KUD) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ethanol extract of dried kudzu root was purified with an AB-8 resin column, and the concentrations of puerarin, daidzin and daidzein in the KUD were determined using UV spectroscopy. HUVECs were pretreated with various concentrations of the KUD with or without rotenone and the viability was assessed by AlamarBlue cell viability assay. Next, HUVECs were pretreated with the KUD and then treated with rotenone, and the levels of ROS generation, apoptosis, and changes of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in HUVECs were measured using fluorescent staining assay and high-content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contents of three major isoflavonoids (puerarin, daidzin and daidzein) were enriched by 7.75-27.51 fold in the extract. The KUD enhanced the proliferation of HUVECs, and protected HUVECs against rotenone-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Additionally, the KUD prevented the loss of ΔΨm in HUVECs stimulated by oxidative stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that an isoflavonoid-rich extract prepared from kudzu root has the potential to act as a protector for vascular endothelial cells against intracellular ROS mediated apoptosis and mitochondrial damage.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department and Tennessee Center for Botanical Medicine Research, Middle Tennessee State University, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA. Electronic address: ying.gao@mtsu.edu.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China. Electronic address: wangxubyts@126.com.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, No. 151 Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: cnhe@implad.cn.
authors.forename: Chunnian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D029908:Pueraria / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012402:Rotenone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012997:Solvents; D012402:Rotenone; D000431:Ethanol; C004742:daidzein; C033607:puerarin
keywords: Apoptosis; Atherosclerosis; HUVECs; Isoflavonoids; Oxidative stress; Pueraria lobata