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Protective Effect of Isorhynchophylline Against β-Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells

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Abstract

Beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ), a major protein component of senile plaques, has been considered as a critical cause in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Modulation of the Aβ-induced neurotoxicity has emerged as a possible therapeutic approach to ameliorate the onset and progression of AD. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of isorhynchophylline, an oxindole alkaloid isolated from a Chinese herb Uncaria rhynchophylla, on Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. The results showed that pretreatment with isorhynchophylline significantly elevated cell viability, decreased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, increased the level of glutathione, and stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential in Aβ25-35-treated PC12 cells. In addition, isorhynchophylline significantly suppressed the formation of DNA fragmentation and the activity of caspase-3 and moderated the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. These results indicate that isorhynchophylline exerts a neuroprotective effect against Aβ25-35-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, at least in part, via inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing the mitochondrial pathway of cellular apoptosis.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a Direct Grant of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Project no. 2030409).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Yan-Fang Xian, Zhi-Xiu Lin, Qing-Qiu Mao & Siu-Po Ip

  2. College of Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Zi-Ren Su & Xiao-Ping Lai

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  1. Yan-Fang Xian
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  2. Zhi-Xiu Lin
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  3. Qing-Qiu Mao
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  4. Siu-Po Ip
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Correspondence to Zhi-Xiu Lin or Siu-Po Ip.

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Xian, YF., Lin, ZX., Mao, QQ. et al. Protective Effect of Isorhynchophylline Against β-Amyloid-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells. Cell Mol Neurobiol 32, 353–360 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-011-9763-5

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