Protective effects of puerariaeflos against ethanol-induced apoptosis on human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC.

Abstract

Puerariaeflos (PF) is an oriental medical herb for alcohol abuse. To investigate whether PF possesses protective effects against ethanol (EtOH)-induced cytotoxicity in the central nervous system, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometric analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed on SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells. Cells treated with EtOH exhibited several apoptotic features, while those pre-treated with PF prior to EtOH exposure showed a decreased occurrence of apoptotic features. In addition, PF pre-treatment inhibited the EtOH-induced increase in caspase-3 mRNA expression. These results suggest that PF may exert protective effects against EtOH-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.

• Authors: M H Jang, M C Shin, Y J Kim, J H Chung, S V Yim, E H Kim, Y Kim, C J Kim
• Journal: Japanese journal of pharmacology (Jpn J Pharmacol) Vol. 87 Issue 4 Pg. 338-42 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 0021-5198 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 11829154 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Alcohol Deterrents
• Plant Extracts
• Ethanol

Topics

• Alcohol Deterrents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Brain Neoplasms (pathology)
• DNA Fragmentation (drug effects)
• Ethanol (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Neuroblastoma (pathology)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Plants, Medicinal (chemistry)
• Pueraria (chemistry)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured