Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in cultured rabbit bone marrow stromal cells via altering the oxidative stress level and down-regulating caspase-3

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2)-induced apoptosis in cultured rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Methods The effects of different concentrations of PNS on proliferation and early osteoblast differentiation of BMSCs were determined by the MTT assay and an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay. An optimal effective concentration of PNS was determined and used in subsequent experiments. The cultured BMSCs were divided into three groups: untreated control, H 2O 2 treated, and PNS pretreatment of H 2O 2 treated. The oxidative stress level was assessed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Flow cytometry was used to determine BMSC apoptosis by staining with annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide (PI). The activity of caspase-3 enzyme was measured by spectrofluorometry. Results PNS (0.1g/L) significantly increased both BMSC proliferation rate and ALP activity, while it decreased the indicators of oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity, and the apoptosis rate of BMSCs induced by H 2O 2.. Conclusion PNS, acting as a biological antioxidant, had a protective effect on H 2O 2-induced apoptosis in cultured rabbit BMSCs by decreasing oxidative stress and down-regulating caspase-3.