Abstract
Flavonoids, the active components of Herba epimedii (HEP), exerts many pharmacological effects, such as improvement of neurological function and sexual dysfunction, anti-osteoporosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China over the centuries. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, icariin, epimedin B and baohuoside-1 are three major flavonoid compounds isolated from HEP. The present study aims to characterize the neuroprotective effects of total flavonoid fraction of HEP and its three major flavonoid compounds against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+)-induced neurotoxicity in MES23.5 cells. MTT assay showed that treatment with MPP+ significantly suppressed the cell viability. The effect could be respectively reversed by HEP, icariin, epimedin B and baohuoside-1 treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The present results provided the evidence that HEP and its main active compounds could protect against MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic MES23.5 cells.
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