Protective role of Populus tomentiglandulosa against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells

Abstract

Oxidative stress caused by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known as an etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Populus tomentiglandulosa (PT), a member of the Salicaceae family, is widely grown in Korea and has been reported to exert protective effects on cerebral ischemia by attenuating of oxidative stress and neuronal damage. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects of an ethanol extract and four fractions [n-butanol, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), chloroform, and n-hexane] of PT under in vitro and cellular systems. The extract and four fractions of PT showed 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ·OH, and O2 - radical scavenging activities in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, the EtOAc fraction of PT had the strongest DPPH, ·OH, and O2 - radical scavenging activities among the extract and other fractions. Therefore, we further investigated the neuroprotective effect of the EtOAc fraction of PT against oxidative stress in H2O2-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Treatment with H2O2 significantly decreased cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and it also increased the ROS levels compared to the normal group. However, treatment with the EtOAc fraction of PT significantly increased cell viability. Moreover, the EtOAc fraction of PTtreated group significantly suppressed ROS production and LDH release compared to the H2O2-induced control group. In conclusion, our findings indicated that PT had in vitro antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress. Therefore, PT could be used as a natural agent for protection against oxidative stress.