Protective effect of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii against oxidative stress in C6 glial cells

Abstract

This study was investigated the anti-oxidant property and neuro-protective effect of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (CJM) against oxidative stress in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced C6 glial cells. We measured the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl radical (·OH), and superoxide (O2 -) radical scavenging activities of an ethanol extract and four fractions [n -Butanol, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), CHCl3, and n -Hexane] from CJM. The results of this study show that the extract and all fractions from CJM had a dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging activity. In particular, the EtOAc fraction exhibited the strongest scavenging effect with 88.23% at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. In addition, the EtOAc fraction from CJM also effectively scavenged ·OH radicals and O2 - radicals, compared to other extract and fractions. In C6 glial cells, H2O2 markedly decreased the cell viability as well as increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, the EtOAc fraction of CJM attenuated the cellular damage from the oxidative stress by elevating the cell viability and inhibiting the LDH release and ROS over-production compared with the H2O2-treated control group. Our findings indicate that the EtOAc fraction from CJM has antioxidant effect and neuro-protective effect against oxidative stress, suggesting that it can be used as a natural antioxidant and therapeutic agent for the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders.