Berberine protects against glutamate-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 and N2a cells

Authors

1 Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

5 Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Objective(s): Neurodegenerative diseases have been associated with glutamatergic dysfunction. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid broadly present in different medicinal herbs, has been reported to have neuroprotective effect. In the present study, the effects of berberine against glutamate-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis were investigated.
Materials and Methods: The cultured PC12 and N2a cells were pretreated (2 hr) with varying concentrations of berberine (50-1000 µM), followed by exposure to glutamate (10 mM) for 24 hr. The cells viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, DNA fragmentation and the expressions of pro-apoptotic (cleaved caspase-3 and bax) and anti-apoptotic (bcl-2) proteins were then measured.
Results: In both cell lines, pretreatment with berberine (especially at low concentrations) significantly decreased ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, and DNA fragmentation, while improving glutathione content and SOD activity in glutamate-injured cells. Moreover, berberine showed anti-apoptotic effects by reducing the glutamate-evoked caspase-3 and bax/bcl-2 overexpression.
Conclusion: The results of present study suggest that berberine protects against glutamate-induced PC12 and N2a cells injury by decreasing oxidative stress and subsequently inhibiting apoptosis. This is relevant to berberine treatment in neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia (Alzheimer’s disease), seizures, and stroke.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 20, Issue 5
May 2017
Pages 594-603

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