Nardostachys chinensis Glycoside Induces Characteristics of Neuronal Differentiation in Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

Song bu li decoction, a traditional uyghur medicine, protects cell death by regulation of oxidative stress and differentiation in cultured PC12 cells

Song Bu Li decoction (SBL) is a traditional Uyghur medicinal herbal preparation, containing Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma. Recently, SBL is being used to treat neurological disorders (insomnia and neurasthenia) and heart disorders (arrhythmia and palpitation). Although this herbal extract has been used for many years, there is no scientific basis about its effectiveness. Here, we aimed to evaluate the protective and differentiating activities of SBL in cultured PC12 cells. The pretreatment of SBL protected the cell against tBHP-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. In parallel, SBL suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The transcriptional activity of antioxidant response element (ARE), as well as the key antioxidative stress proteins, was induced in dose-dependent manner by SBL in the cultures. In cultured PC12 cells, the expression of neurofilament, a protein marker for neuronal differentiation, was markedly induced by applied herbal extract. Moreover, the nerve growth factor- (NGF-) induced neurite outgrowth in cultured PC12 cells was significantly potentiated by the cotreatment of SBL. In accord, the expression of neurofilament was increased in the treatment of SBL. These results therefore suggested a possible role of SBL by its effect on neuron differentiation and protection against oxidative stress.

Neurotrophic property of geniposide for inducing the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells

The emerging data show that the insulinotrophic hormone glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) and its agonist extendin-4 have neurotrophic function to inducing neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and prevent neurons damage challenged by oxidative stress. Here, with the model of high throughput screen for GLP-1 receptor agonists, we screen and identify that geniposide is a novel agonist for GLP-1 receptor. Furthermore, geniposide induces the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells with resulting neurites outgrowth; we also observe an increase in expression of growth-associated protein-43. U0126, a selective MEK inhibitor, prevents neurites out growth and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated kinase proteins in PC12 cells induced by geniposide. All these results show that activation of GLP-1 receptor by geniposide to induce the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells involves in MAPK signaling cascade.