Protection of SH-SY5Y neuronal cells from glutamate-induced apoptosis by 3,6 ′-disinapoyl sucrose, a bioactive compound isolated from radix polygala

Abstract

The neuroprotective effects of 3,6 ′-disinapoyl sucrose (DISS) from Radix Polygala against glutamate-induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cells injury were evaluated in the present study. SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were pretreated with glutamate (8mM) for 30min followed by cotreatment with DISS for 12h. Cell viability was determined by (3,4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylte- trazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and apoptosis was confirmed by cell morphology and flow cytometry assay, evaluated with propidium iodide dye. Treatment with DISS (0.6, 6, and 60mol/L) increased cell viability dose dependently, inhibited LDH release, and attenuated apoptosis. The mechanisms by which DISS protected neuron cells from glutamate-induced excitotoxicity included the downregulation of proapoptotic gene Bax and the upregulation of antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2. The present findings indicated that DISS exerts neuroprotective effects against glutamate toxicity, which might be of importance and contribute to its clinical efficacy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.