title: Protective effect of cirsimaritin against streptozotocin-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maintaining glucose homoeostasis is essential for the survival of cells. Despite the various health benefits of Korean thistle (Cirsium japonicum var. maackii), their effects on pancreatic β-cell apoptosis in type 1 diabetes mellitus and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and experimentally investigated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of C. japonicum var. maackii and its active component cirsimaritin against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced cytotoxicity were assessed in INS-1 cells. By Western blotting analysis, protein expressions related to apoptosis were evaluated. The involvement of apoptosis was also confirmed with image-based cytometric assay and caspase activity tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cirsium japonicum var. maackii extract and cirsimaritin in non-toxic concentrations improved cell viability to near normal levels and protected INS-1 cells against STZ-induced damage. In addition, cirsimaritin reduced the intracellular oxidative stress induced by STZ. Cirsimaritin effectively suppressed apoptosis in pancreatic β cells by decreasing the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3, BID and the DNA repair protein poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and increasing anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential and action mechanism of cirsimaritin for the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dahae
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Gwi Seo
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.affiliation: Imsil Research Institute of Cheese Science, Imsil, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Imsil Research Institute of Cheese Science, Imsil, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Cheon
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Sanghyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2050-5244
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D031180:Cirsium / Q000737:chemistry*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D047309:Flavones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D047309:Flavones; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013311:Streptozocin; C007072:cirsimaritin; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8
keywords: Cirsium japonicum var. maackii; apoptosis; cirsimaritin; streptozotocin