The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on direct and indirect defense metabolites of Plantago lanceolata L

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can strongly influence the metabolism of their host plant, but their effect on plant defense mechanisms has not yet been thoroughly investigated. We studied how the principal direct defenses (iridoid glycosides) and indirect defenses (volatile organic compounds) of Plantago lanceolata L. are affected by insect herbivory and mechanical wounding. Volatile compounds were collected and quantified from mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal P. lanceolata plants that underwent three different treatments: 1) insect herbivory, 2) mechanical wounding, or 3) no damage. The iridoids aucubin and catalpol were extracted and quantified from the same plants. Emission of terpenoid volatiles was significantly higher after insect herbivory than after the other treatments. However, herbivore-damaged mycorrhizal plants emitted lower amounts of sesquiterpenes, but not monoterpenes, than herbivore-damaged non-mycorrhizal plants. In contrast, mycorrhizal infection increased the emission of the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate in untreated control plants, making it comparable to emission from mechanically wounded or herbivore-damaged plants whether or not they had mycorrhizal associates. Neither mycorrhization nor treatment had any influence on the levels of iridoid glycosides. Thus, mycorrhizal infection did not have any effect on the levels of direct defense compounds measured in P. lanceolata. However, the large decline in herbivore-induced sesquiterpene emission may have important implications for the indirect defense potential of this species.

Metabonomic identification of novel biomarkers in doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and protective effect of the natural antioxidant oleuropein

Doxorubicin (DXR) is a commonly used antineoplastic agent; however, its use is limited due to cardiotoxicity. Oxidative stress and consequent alterations of cardiac energetics are involved in the development of DXR toxicity. Oleuropein (Oleu) is a phenolic antioxidant, present in olive tree, reported to confer protection against DXR cardiotoxicity. In this study, NMR based-metabonomics was applied to characterize the metabolic profile of the acute DXR cardiotoxicity in rats and to evaluate the metabolic alterations conferred by co-treatment with Oleu. Wistar rats were divided into six groups and treated as follows: control group with a single injection of 2 mL normal saline intraperitoneally (i.p.), DXR group with a single dose of 20 mg/kg, i.p and DXR plus Oleu groups with 20mg/kg DXR i.p., and 100 or 200 mg/kg/BW of Oleu i.p. for 5 or 3 consecutive days starting either 2 days before or on the day of DXR administration. Hearts were excised 72 h after DXR treatment and (1)H-NMR spectra of aqueous myocardium extracts were recorded. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) revealed differences in the metabolic profile between control and DXR attributed to several metabolites. A number of them were quantified by integration of the NMR spectra. Myocardial levels of acetate and succinate were increased in DXR compared to controls, while branched amino acids were decreased. These results correlate with nonenzymatic conversion of pyruvate to acetate and of alpha-ketoglutarate to succinate by DXR free radicals. Oleu completely restored the changes of metabolites to the normal levels. Acetate and succinate constitute novel biomarkers related to DXR, and Oleu treatment aids the compensation of distressed energy metabolic pathways.

[HPLC determination of catalpol in cerebrospinal fluid of rats]

OBJECTIVE

To establish an HPLC method for determination of catalpol in CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) of rats.

METHOD

Rats were intravenously injected 1.0 g x L(-1) catalpol physiological saline, and the sample of CSF from subarachnoid space of the cerebrum 40 minutes of injection. The sample of CSF from normal rats was used for blank control, the all samples were preserved in a refrigerator of - 20 degrees C, and use HPLC was employed to determine the catalpol content. The separation of catalpol was performed on Hypersil C18 reversion phase chromatographic column. The mobile phase consisted of water-acetonitrile (99.5: 0.5) with a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1) and detection wavelength of 210 nm.

RESULT

The linear range of catalpol in CSF was 0.5-40 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 7). The absolute recoveries were (90.2 +/- 1.71)%, (89.1 +/- 1.17)% and (86.9 +/- 0.98)%; and the methodological recoveries were (99.8 +/- 1.98)%, (101.1 +/- 3.04)%, (100.1 +/- 2.30)% respectively. The within-day and between-day derivation RSD were less than 4%. Catalpol was stable in a refrigerator of -20 degrees C for 15 days.

CONCLUSION

The method is simple and accurate for the determination of the content of catalpol in CSF.

[Determination of six active components in three species of genus Swertia by HPLC multiwavelength with detection]

OBJECTIVE

To develop an HPLC method for the quantification of six active components in three species (Swertia davidi, S. nervosa and S. mussotii) .

METHOD

The determination was performed on a Hypersil BDS colunm (4. 6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm). Acetonitrile and 0.5% phosphoric acid solution were used as the mobile phases with a gradient elution. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The UV detection wavelength was at 240, 274, 325 and 334 nm. The column oven temperature was at 25 degrees C.

RESULT

Six components were separated commendably in 60 minutes. The calibration curves of swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, norswertianolin, swertianolin, demethylbellidifolin and bellidifolin were in good linearity over the range of 0.520-20.8, 0.202-8.06, 0.107-4.28, 0.097-3.86, 0.094-3.77, 0.101-4.02 microg, respectively (r = 0.999 9). The average recoveries were 98.7%, 98.1%, 98.3%, 98.8%, 98.1% and 98.6%, respectively, and the RSD were less than 3.0% (n = 6).

CONCLUSION

The method is accurate,simple and reproducible, and can be used to control the quality of Swertia.

Inhibitory effect of penta-acetyl geniposide on C6 glioma cells metastasis by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression involved in both the PI3K and ERK signaling pathways

Penta-acetyl geniposide [(Ac)(5)GP], an acetylated geniposide product from Gardenia fructus, has been known to have hepatoprotective properties and recent studies have revealed its anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect on C6 glioma cells. In this study, we first report the anti-metastastic effect of (Ac)(5)GP in the rat neuroblastoma line: C6 glioma cells. First (Ac)(5)GP exhibited an inhibitory effect on abilities of adhesion and motility by cell-matrix adhesion assay, wound healing assay and Boyden chamber assay. Second, the decreasing activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was noted by gelatin zymography assay. Further analysis with semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed the mRNA levels of MMP-2 and membrane type I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) were significantly reduced, while the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) was elevated by (Ac)(5)GP treatment. Further (Ac)(5)GP also exerted an inhibitory effect on phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) protein expression, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and inhibition of activation of transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), c-Fos, c-Jun. These findings proved (Ac)(5)GP is highly likely to be a inhibiting cancer migration agent to be further developed in the future.

Impact of sampling parameters on the radical scavenging potential of olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves

The impact of sampling parameters, that is, cultivar, leaf age, and sampling date, on the radical scavenging potential of olive leaf extracts was examined via the DPPH(*) and other assays. Total phenol content was estimated colorimetrically and by fluorometry, whereas phenol composition was assessed by RP-HPLC coupled with diode array, fluorometric, and MS detection systems. Oleuropein was not always the major leaf constituent. Considerable differences noted in individual phenol levels (hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein and other secoiridoids, verbascoside, and flavonoids) among samples were not reflected either in the total phenol content or in the radical scavenging potential of the extracts. It can be suggested that olive leaf is a robust source of radical scavengers throughout the year and that differentiation in the levels of individual components depends rather on sampling period than on cultivar or age. The latter does not present predictable regularity. Exploitation of all types of leaves expected in an olive tree shoot for the extraction of bioactive compounds is feasible.

Effect of malaxation conditions on phenol and volatile profiles in olive paste and the corresponding virgin olive oils (Olea europaea L. Cv. Cornicabra)

Malaxation of olive paste must be considered to be much more than a simple physical separation, because a complex bioprocess takes place that is very relevant to the quality and composition of the final product. A combined study of the effect of kneading temperature and time on the minor composition of olive paste and its corresponding virgin olive oil, processed in an experimental oil mill (Pieralisi, Fattoria) with a working capacity of 200 kg/h, is reported. A large drop in the oleuropein content in the olive paste with respect to its initial content in the olive fruit (between 92 and 96%) was observed, which suggested its almost total degradation during the crushing operation. The major phenolic compound found in the olive paste during kneading was the dialdehydic form of elenolic acid linked to hydroxytyrosol (3,4-DHPEA-EDA, always higher than 60% of the total phenols). This greatly decreased during malaxation (from 5505 to 2317 mg/kg, on average). The content of phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil was much more affected by the malaxation temperature than the kneading time. For instance, the 3,4-DHPEA-EDA content increased by 220-630% in the two batches when the temperature was increased from 20 to 40 degrees C. A reduction in the C6 aldehydes was found in virgin olive oil as the malaxation temperature increased, especially in E-2-hexenal (30% reduction). In contrast, C6 aldehydes in the oils from the oil mill plant significantly increased as the malaxation time increased from 30 to 90 min, chiefly E-2-hexenal (about a 70% increase).

Antinociceptive activity of swertiamarin isolated from Enicostemma axillare

Many traditional Indian medicinal plants which contain large quantity of a secoiridoid, swertiamarin are being used to relieve pain. Iridoids present in a wide variety of medicinal plants possess a large number of medicinal properties. In the present study in vivo antinociceptive activity of swertiamarin isolated from E. axillare was carried out using three different methods in mice. In the hot plate method, a significant increase in the latency period was observed for the treatment with swertiamarin at 100 and 200 mg/kg bw after 30 and 45 min. The percent protection observed after 45 min was 109.42, 147.42 and 157.14, respectively, for the standard paracetamol and swertiamarin at 100 and 200 mg/kg bw treatments. A significant increase in the tail withdrawal reflex was observed for the swertiamarin treatment at both the doses with percent protections of 150 and 200, respectively. In both these methods, swertiamarin produced potent activity than that of standard paracetamol. In the acetic acid induced writhing, swertiamarin at 100 and 200 mg/kg bw reduced the number of writhes significantly. Dose dependent results were observed in all the three methods and among the two doses, swertiamarin at 200 mg/kg bw showed potent activity. These results prove that swertiamarin possess both peripheral and central antinociceptive activity.

[Determination of oleuropein in stem of Syringa oblata from different districts by HPLC]

OBJECTIVE

To develop an HPLC method for the determination of oleuropein in Syringa oblata.

METHOD

An Aigilent ZORBAX SB- C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water (21 : 79). The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelenghth was set at 232 nm and the column temperature was 30 degrees C.

RESULT

The linear range of oleuropein were from 0.011 62 g x L(-1) to 1.162 g x L(-1). The average recovery was 98.7% with RSD 2.5% (n=9).

CONCLUSION

The method is reliable, accurate and specific. It can be used for quality control of the stem of Syringa oblata.

[Two iridoid glycoside from roots of Phlomis medicinalis]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Phlomis medicinalis.

METHOD

The compounds were isolated and repeatedly purified by macroporous resin, silica gel column chromatography, TLC and PREP-HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by physical and chemical properties and NMR spectra.

RESULT

Two iridoid glucosides were obtained and elucidated as 7-epilamalbide (1), chlorotuberoside (2).

CONCLUSION

Compound 1 was a new compound, compound 2 was isolated from the plant for the first time.

Antiedematogenic and free radical scavenging activity of swertiamarin isolated from Enicostemma axillare

Swertiamarin, a secoiridoid isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Enicostemma axillare, was evaluated for antiedematogenic activity using carrageenan-, formalin-, and histamine-induced paw edema methods in rats. In the carrageenan-induced method, the percentages of edema inhibition obtained after 5 h induction were 38.60, 52.50, and 45.44, respectively, for 100 and 200 mg/kg bw swertiamarin and 100 mg/kg bw of standard diclofenac sodium given orally. The activity of swertiamarin at 200 mg/kg bw was found to be superior to that of standard diclofenac sodium in all these methods. Swertiamarin was also screened for IN VITRO antioxidant activity using seven different methods: good activity was observed in ABTS and hydrogen peroxide methods, and moderate activity was observed in hydroxyl radical by deoxyribose and lipid peroxidation methods, with IC50 values of 2.83, 5.70, 52.56, and 78.33 microg/mL, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity was found to be 4.51 mM of ascorbic acid per gram of swertiamarin. Swertiamarin possesses antiedematogenic and in vitro antioxidant activities, and it may be the active constituent responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of E. AXILLARE.

Iridoid glucosides from leaves and stem barks of Parkia javanica

Two new iridoid glucosides, javanicosides A (1) and B (2) along with the known compounds, ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol were isolated from the leaf and stem bark of Parkia javanica and the structures were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis (MS, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments). The new compounds were identified as 8-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-6'-O-p-coumaroyl-mussaenosidic acid (1) and 7-O-E-3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl-6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylloganic acid (2).

Characterization of isomers of oleuropein aglycon in olive oils by rapid-resolution liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray time-of-flight and ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

In this work, rapid-resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC) coupled to electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) and ion trap multiple mass spectrometry (IT-MS(n)) has been applied to separate and characterize eleven isomers of oleuropein aglycon in fourteen Spanish extra-virgin olive oils. After the extra-virgin olive oil sample had been dissolved in hexane and cleaned up by a diol-bonded phase solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge, the eluting extract was resolved in methanol and analyzed on an Angilent 1200 system with a 4.6 x 150 mm, 1.8 microm Zorbax Eclipse plus C18 column. Mass spectrometry was carried out on a Bruker Daltonics microTOF mass spectrometer and a Bruker Daltonics ion trap mass spectrometer. The characterization of isomers of oleuropein aglycon was based on accurate mass data and the isotope function of characteristic fragment ions in the studied compounds by TOF-MS, and the fragment ions were further confirmed by IT-MS(n). The fragmentation pathway of oleuropein aglycon was successfully elucidated and all possible transformations among isomers of oleuropein aglycon were suggested.

Extraction of aucubin from seeds of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. using supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical CO2 was used as solvent for the extraction of aucubin from the seeds of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. The co-solvent composition was tested and extraction conditions were optimized. Results showed that the best co-solvent was a water-ethanol mixture (1 + 3, v/v), and the highest yield was obtained when the extraction was performed under 26 MPa at extraction and separation temperatures of 55 and 30 degrees C for 120 min, using 6 mL co-solvent/g material at a CO2 flow rate of 20 L/h. In a comparison of the supercritical CO2 and Soxhlet extraction methods, the Soxhlet method needed 3 h to extract 10 g material, whereas the supercritical CO2 extraction technique needed only 2 h to extract 100 g material, thus showing a high extraction capability. The supercritical CO2 extraction produced a higher yield, with a lower cost for the extraction. Owing to the advantages of low extraction temperature, high yield, and ease of separating the product from the solvent, supercritical CO2 extraction is likely to be developed into an ideal technique for the extraction of aucubin, a compound with thermal instability, from the seeds of this plant.

Fagraldehyde, a secoiridoid isolated from Fagraea fragrans

A secoiridoid aglycone with an atypical skeleton, named fagraldehyde (1), together with several known secoiridoids (gentiopicroside (2), sweroside (3), and swertiamarin (4)) were isolated from the bark and leaves of Fagraea fragrans collected in Cambodia. The conformations of 1 were evaluated on the basis of molecular modeling and NOESY correlations. A hypothetical biogenesis of fagraldehyde was proposed to explain the unusual skeleton. Compound 1 was weakly active in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum.

Dual inhibition of metallopeptidases ACE and NEP by extracts, and iridoids from Ligustrum vulgare L

AIM OF THE STUDY

In order to confirm the traditional use of Ligustrum vulgare L. (common privet, Oleaceae) we investigated the inhibitory activity of different extracts from leaves (LlE), flowers (LflE) and fruits (LfrE) on metallopeptidases ACE and NEP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Powdered plant materials were first extracted with water and then with ethyl acetate and n-butanol saturated with water. The metallopeptidases activity was determined using in vitro fluorimetric assays.

RESULTS

At a concentration of 100microg/ml the ethyl acetate extracts showed the highest activity. The bio-guided fractionation of the leaves extract led to the isolation of two iridoids which were identified by (1)H, (13)C and HETCOR NMR spectroscopy as oleuropein and ligstroside aglycones. Both compounds are dual ACE/NEP inhibitors with IC(50) of 20 and 25microM for ACE and IC(50) of 35 and 75microM for NEP, respectively. Secoirydoids glycosides, tyrozol and hydroxytyrozol, as well as, flavonoids present in the ethyl acetate extracts showed little or no inhibitory activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results partially support the diuretic and hypotensive activities of common privet.

[Studies on glycosides from Gentiana veitchiorum]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents of Gentiana veitchiorum.

METHOD

The chemical constituents were isolated by chromatography and identified by spectral data.

RESULT

Five glycosides, loganic acid (1), gentiopicroside (2), isoorientin 3'-methyl ether (3), isovitexin (4), isoorientin (5) were isolated and identified.

CONCLUSION

Compounds 1-5 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Iridoids as DNA topoisomerase I poisons

The discovery of new topoisomerase I inhibitors is necessary since most of the antitumor drugs are targeted against type II and only a very few can specifically affect type I. Topoisomerase poisons generate toxic DNA damage by stabilization of the covalent DNA-topoisomerase cleavage complex and some have therapeutic efficacy in human cancer. Two iridoids, aucubin and geniposide, have shown antitumoral activities, but their activity against topoisomerase enzymes has not been tested. Here it was found that both compounds are able to stabilize covalent attachments of the topoisomerase I subunits to DNA at sites of DNA strand breaks, generating cleavage complexes intermediates so being active as poisons of topoisomerase I, but not topoisomerase II. This result points to DNA damage induced by topoisomerase I poisoning as one of the possible mechanisms by which these two iridoids have shown antitumoral activity, increasing interest in their possible use in cancer chemoprevention and therapy.

[Promoting effect of constituents in plasma after oral administration of liuwei dihuangwan on proliferation of rat osteoblast]

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the promoting effect of the constituents in plasma after oral administration of Liuwei Dihuangwan on proliferation of rat osteoblast.

METHOD

To add the constituents in plasma after oral administration of Liuwei Dihuangwan with rational concentration into culture solution of rat osteoblast, later using MT method for determining the proliferation rate of rat osteoblast.

RESULT

The Mixed group including morroniside, sweroside and loganin with different dose all significantly promoted proliferation of rat osteoblast.

CONCLUSION

This study preliminarily elucidated the constituents such as morroniside, sweroside and loganin in plasma after oral administration of Liuwei Dihuangwan were main biological constituents which contributed to anti-osteoporosis bioactivity of Liuwei Dihuangwan.

[Comparative analysis of character on germplasm resources of Rehmannia glutinosa]

OBJECTIVE

To compare difference in character between wild germplasm and cultivar of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.

METHOD

Field test and statistical analysis were applied.

RESULT

The results showed that the plant height and leave weight of individual plant in cultivar were decreased significantly comparing to wild germplasm, and the output was increased significantly. The leave length was reduced. The leave width, the catalpol content in leave and polysaccharides and reducing sugar content in cultivar was increased not significantly. Whereas the catalpol content and the water extract content in cultivar were equal to wild germplasm.

CONCLUSION

The plant height and leave weight of individual plant of R. glutinosa was decreased significantly in cultivar, but the active compounds content not changed obviously.

Solid-liquid transfer of biophenols from olive leaves for the enrichment of edible oils by a dynamic ultrasound-assisted approach

A continuous approach assisted by ultrasound for direct enrichment of edible oils (olive, sunflower, and soya) with the main phenols in olive leaves (i.e., oleuropein, verbascoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, and luteolin-7-glucoside) has been developed. Multivariate methodology was used to carry out a detailed optimization of the enrichment, and quantitation of the transferred compounds was based on LC-MS-MS in multiple reaction monitoring optimizing the most sensitive transition for each biophenol. Under the optimal working conditions, only 20 min is necessary to enrich the edible oils with 14.45-9.92 microg/mL oleuropein, 2.29-2.12 microg/mL verbascoside, 1.91-1.51 microg/mL apigenin-7-glucoside, and 1.60-1.42 microg/mL luteolin-7-glucoside. The enrichment method is carried out at room temperature and is organic-solvent-free; thus, the healthy properties of the edible oils improve as does their quality. Also, the low acquisition and maintenance costs of an ultrasound source and its application in a dynamic system make advisable the industrial implementation of the proposed method.

[Chemical constituents from herbs of Swertia delavayi]

OBJECTIVE

To isolate and identify the chemical constituents of 95% alcohol extract from Swertia delavayi.

METHOD

The compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatogrphy and their structures were identified by the physicochemical properties and spectral analyses.

RESULT

Seven compounds were isolated and identified as oleanolic acid (1), gentiopcroside (2), swertiamarin (3), daucosterol (4), swertiadecoraxanthone-II (5), isovitexin (6), isoorientin (7).

CONCLUSION

Compounds 2-7 were isolated from S. delavayi for the first time. While the compound 6 was firstly reported from the genus Swertia.

Localization of the noncovalent binding site between amyloid-beta-peptide and oleuropein using electrospray ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry

Abnormal accumulation and aggregation of amyloid-beta-peptide (Abeta) eventually lead to the formation and cerebral deposition of amyloid plaques, the major pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oleuropein (OE), an Olea europaea L. derived polyphenol, exhibits a broad range of pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic, which could serve as combative mechanisms against several reported pathways involved in the pathophysiology of AD. The reported noncovalent interaction between Abeta and OE could imply a potential antiamyloidogenic role of the latter on the former via stabilization of its structure and prevention of the adaptation of a toxic beta-sheet conformation. The established beta-sheet conformation of the Abeta hydrophobic carboxy-terminal region and the dependence of its toxicity and aggregational propensity on its secondary structure make the determination of the binding site between Abeta and OE highly important for assessing the role of the interaction. In this study, two different proteolytic digestion protocols, in conjunction with high-sensitivity electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of the resulting peptide fragments, were used to determine the noncovalent binding site of OE on Abeta and revealed the critical regions for the interaction.

Catalpol protects rat pheochromocytoma cells against oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced injury

OBJECTIVES

Catalpol has been identified to have neuroprotective effect on gerbils subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanism that catalpol prevents ischemia is still unclear. In the present study, PC12 cells, exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reperfusion, were used as an in vitro model of ischemia. The protective effects of catalpol were investigated in ischemic-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

METHODS

After OGD for 3 hours and reoxygenation for 18 hours, cell survival was quantified by the reduction of 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were determined using commercially available kits. Caspase-3 assay was performed using caspase-3 assay kit. Microplate reader was used to detect the intensities of rhodamine123 (Rh123) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The level of Bcl-2 protein was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Catalpol attenuated ischemia-induced apoptotic death via preventing the decrease in the level of Bcl-2 protein and the activities of SOD and GSH-PX, inhibiting the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential and suppressing activation of caspase-3.

DISCUSSION

The results suggest that the catalpol has the potential to prevent ischemic-induced apoptosis.