San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury via inhibition of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Abstract

Oxidative stress has been widely implicated in the pathogenesis of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXT), a widely used traditional Chinese medication, has been shown to possess antioxidant effects. Here, we investigated whether SHXT and its main component baicalin can attenuate oxidative stress induced by H/R injury. H9c2 rat ventricular cells were exposed to SHXT or baicalin followed by hypoxia for 24 h and/or reoxygenation for 8 h. Pretreatment with SHXT and baicalin both significantly prevented cell death and production of reactive oxygen species induced by hypoxia or H/R in H9c2 cardiomyoctes. In addition, SHXT and baicalin also inhibited hypoxia- or H/R-induced apoptosis, with associated decreased Bax protein, increased Bcl-2 protein, and decreased caspase-3 activity. Furthermore, we found that hypoxia and H/R decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and nitrite production, and these effects were counteracted by SHXT and baicalein. Finally, SHXT inhibited H/R-induced activation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in H9c2 rat ventricular cells. The present study demonstrates for the first time that SHXT can protect cardiomyocytes from H/R injury via inhibition of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. These cardioprotective effects are possibly mediated through eNOS enhancement and p38 MAPK and JNK-dependent signaling pathways.

• Authors: Shu-Fen Liou, Jong-Hau Hsu, Jyh-Chong Liang, Hung-Jen Ke, Ing-Jun Chen, Jiunn-Ren Wu, Jwu-Lai Yeh
• Journal: Journal of natural medicines (J Nat Med) Vol. 66 Issue 2 Pg. 311-20 (Apr 2012) ISSN: 1861-0293 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 21979292 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Nitrites
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Blotting, Western
• Cell Hypoxia (physiology)
• Cell Line
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology)
• Myocytes, Cardiac (drug effects, metabolism)
• Nitrites (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Rats
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Reperfusion Injury (prevention & control)