Cytoprotection Activity Evaluation of (E)-3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)- Prop-2-En-1-One as a New Antioxidant Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in PC12 Cells

Abstract

Scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) by antioxidants is an important therapy to neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, a new chalcone compound (E)-3-(3,4 -dichlorophenyl)-1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (A1) with potent antioxidant activity in PC12 cells was found. The MTT assay showed that A1 at 10 μM had no apparent cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. DPPH assay exhibited A1 could scavenge ROS directly. Treatment with A1 could elevate the population of viable cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, A1 protected PC12 cells against H2O2-induced apoptosis. At the molecular level, A1 conferred cytoprotection against oxidative damage in PC12 cells via up-regulation of the expression of HO-1 and GCLC proteins. These findings suggest compound A1 to be a promising antioxidant for the treatment oxidative stress-related diseases.