Protective Effect of Psoralea corylifolia L. Seed Extract against Palmitate‐Induced Neuronal Apoptosis in PC12 Cells

Abstract

The extract of Psoralea corylifolia seeds (PCE) has been widely used as a herbal medicine because of its beneficial effect on human health. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of PCE on palmitate- (PA-) induced toxicity in PC12 cells, a neuron-like cell line. PCE significantly increased cell viability in PA-treated PC12 cells and showed antiapoptotic effects, as evidenced by decreased expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and bax protein as well as increased expression of bcl-2 protein. In addition, PCE treatment reduced PA-induced reactive oxygen species production and upregulated mRNA levels of antioxidant genes such as nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 and heme oxygenase 1. Moreover, PCE treatment recovered the expression of autophagy marker genes such as beclin-1 and p62, which was decreased by PA treatment. Treatment with isopsoralen, one of the major components of PCE extract, also recovered the expression of autophagy marker genes and reduced PA-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, PCE exerts protective effects against lipotoxicity via its antioxidant function, and this effect is mediated by activation of autophagy. PCE might be a potential pharmacological agent to protect against neuronal cell injury caused by oxidative stress or lipotoxicity.

Psoralea corylifolia L. Seed Extract Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy by Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis and Apoptosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

“…Two coumarins, psoralen and isopsoralen, increased cell viability and decreased apoptotic protein expression, and bakuchiol showed anti-apoptotic effects at much lower concentration compared with psoralen or isopsoralen. Similarly, previous studies found that psoralen or isopsoralen inhibits apoptotic cell death in H 2 O 2 -treated INS-1 cells [ 18 ] or palmitate-treated PC12 cells [ 34 ]. Psoralen or isopsoralen decreased mRNA expression level of fibronectin and PAI-1, suggesting that the effects of PCS extract in diabetic nephropathy was mediated primarily by these compounds.…”

Protective Effects of Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold Fruit Extract against Palmitate-Induced Lipotoxicity in Mesangial Cells

“…PA-induced apoptosis has been implicated in increased ER stress and intracellular ROS production in multiple cell types, including mesangial cells [4, 9, 21]. Furthermore, elevated cellular ROS level is linked with ER stress [26].…”

“…A stock solution of PA (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) was prepared by conjugating PA with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin (FAF-BSA, Sigma), as reported previously [21]. In brief, PA was dissolved in Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (DPBS; Welgene Inc., Daegu, Korea) at 60°C for 20 min to make a 20 mM stock solution, and the pH was adjusted to 7.0~7.4 with 1 M NaOH.…”

Corylin Inhibits Vascular Cell Inflammation, Proliferation and Migration and Reduces Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice

“…Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae) is among the most popular traditional Chinese medicines and has been shown to have antimicrobial activity [3], anticancer effects [4], and antioxidant activity [5,6] and to prevent diabetes [7], protect against palmitate-induced neuronal apoptosis [8], and inhibit high-fat diet-induced hepatic disease [9]. In particular, corylin, a flavonoid compound extracted from Psoralea corylifolia L., has been shown to stimulate osteoblast proliferation [10], attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-or interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced inflammatory responses [11,12], suppress hepatocellular carcinoma progression [13], ameliorates hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis [14] and increase hepatocellular carcinoma cell sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy [15].…”