Fundamental Toxicological Sciences

Paper Details

Fundamental Toxicological Sciences
Vol. 6 No. 3 April 24, 2019 p.107-112
Letter
Magnoliae Cortex extract protects PC12 cells from cytotoxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide or 6-hydroxydopamine through enzyme induction
  • Akira Hiratsuka (Department of Drug Metabolism and Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences / hiratuka@ps.toyaku.ac.jp)
Takahito Nishiyama , Yasuhiro Masuda , Tadashi Izawa , Tomokazu Ohnuma , Kenichiro Ogura , Akira Hiratsuka
Department of Drug Metabolism and Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
Keywords: Catalase, Hydrogen peroxide, 6-Hydroxydopamine, NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase 1, Oxidative stress, PC12 cells
Abstracts

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are neurodegenerative disorders of unknown cause for which there is no cure or way of preventing or slowing its progression. Various genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress, such as the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, is a major factor in initiating the disease process. However, oxidative stress in cells is known to be suppressed by drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase. Here, we used PC12 cells, which are a recognized model for neuronal cell death and neurite extension, to investigate whether Magnoliae Cortex derived from the Magnoliaceae plant family can induce these enzyme activities. Our results reveal that Magnoliae Cortex extract induces the activity of both NQO1 and catalase. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide and 6-hydroxydopamine was significantly suppressed by pretreatment of the cells with Magnoliae Cortex extract. Based on our findings, we conclude that induction of these enzyme activities by Magnoliae Cortex extract leads to an enhancement of its cytoprotective effect.