Amyloid beta protein (Abeta)-induced free radical-mediated neurotoxicity is known as a leading hypothesis for a cause of Alzheimer's disease. Abeta increased free radical production and lipid peroxidation in PC12 nerve cells, resulting in apoptosis and cell death. The protective effect of naringenin, a major flavanone constituent isolated from Citrus junos, against Abeta-induced neurotoxicity was investigated using PC12 cells. Pretreatment with isolated naringenin and vitamin C prevented the generation of the Abeta-induced reactive oxygen species. Naringenin resulted in the decrease of Abeta toxicity in a manner of concentration dependence, which was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. However, treatment with these antioxidants inhibited the Abeta-induced neurotoxic effect. The antiamnestic activity of naringenin in vivo was also evaluated using ICR mice with amnesia induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg body weight). Naringenin, when administered to ICR mice at 4.5 mg/kg body weight, significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia as measured in the passive avoidance test. Therefore, these results indicate that micromolecular Abeta-induced in vitro oxidative cell stress is reduced by naringenin and naringenin may be a useful chemopreventive agent against a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.