Protective effect of theaflavins on neuron against 6-hydroxydopamine- induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells

Abstract

Theaflavins, the oxidation products of tea polyphenols are important biologically active components of black tea. 6-hydroxy- dopamine is a pro-parkinsonian neurotoxin. Theaflavins could inhibit the auto-oxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine in a dose- dependent manner from 0.5 μg/ml to 25 μg/ml. Here we investigated the protective effect of theaflavins on 6-hydroxydopamine induced SH-SY5Y cells against apoptosis (within this concentration range). It was found that pretreating SH-SY5Y cells with 0.5 μg/ml of theaflavins prevented 6-hydroxydopamine-induced loss of cell viability, condensed nuclear morphology, attenuated 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis, decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and the increase of intracellular nitric oxide levels. Our results indicated that theaflavins had protective effect against 6-hydroxydopamine induced apoptosis at low concentrations, possibly through inhibition of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production. ©2012 JCBN.