Abstract
Background
Cocoa is a rich source of flavonoids that, among other functions, can act as antioxidants. In living systems, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate an array of intracellular cascades, including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), that are closely associated with cell death or survival pathways.
Aim of the study
To ascertain the role of a cocoa extract and its main flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, in an in vitro model of oxidative stress induced in a neuronal cell line.
Methods
We analyzed ROS production by fluorometry (dichlorofluorescein assay), and activation of MAPK pathways including extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK 1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p-38, by Western blot analysis.
Results
Cells incubated with cocoa extract or (-)-epicatechin, reduced ROS production in a dose-dependent manner, reaching 35% inhibition. pJNK and p38, involved in apoptosis, were down-modulated by cocoa extract and (-)-epicatechin with p38 inhibition reaching up to 70%.
Conclusions
Our results show that cocoa extract and (-)-epicatechin may exert a neuroprotective action by reducing ROS production and modulating MAPK activation.
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Abbreviations
- AD:
-
Alzheimer’s disease
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- Aβ:
-
Amyloid-β protein
- DA:
-
diacetate
- DCF:
-
2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein
- DMSO:
-
Dimethyl sulfoxide
- ERK 1/2:
-
Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2
- GSTPi:
-
Glutathione-S-transferase enzyme-class Pi
- H2DCF:
-
reduced DCF
- JNK:
-
c-Jun N-terminal kinase
- LDH:
-
Lactate dehydrogenase
- MAPK:
-
Mitogen-activated protein kinases
- ORAC:
-
Oxygen radical absorbance capacity
- PMSF:
-
Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- RT:
-
Room temperature
- SOD:
-
Superoxide dismutase
- TBS:
-
Tris buffered saline solution
- TBST:
-
TBS with 0.1% Tween 20
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Acknowledgments
E.R. is the recipient of fellowships from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2003FI 00578 and 2005BE 00709).
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An erratum to this article can be found under doi:10.1007/s00394-008-0766-z.
An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0766-z
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Ramiro-Puig, E., Casadesús, G., Lee, Hg. et al. Neuroprotective effect of cocoa flavonids on in vitro oxidative stress. Eur J Nutr 48, 54–61 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0761-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0761-4