S‐Allyl cysteine, S‐ethyl cysteine and S‐propyl cysteine alleviate oxidative stress‐induced damage within PC12 cells

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUND: The PC12 cell line is a suitable model for the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, PC12 cells were used to examine in vitro antioxidative and antiapoptotic protection by S‐allyl cysteine (SAC), S‐ethyl cysteine (SEC) and S‐propyl cysteine (SPC). PC12 cells were treated with these agents at 5 and 10 µmol L−1 before exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).RESULTS: H2O2 treatment significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell viability and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). The pre‐treatments with SAC, SEC and SPC significantly and concentration‐dependently elevated cell viability and MMP and lowered LDH release and DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). H2O2 treatment also significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) and decreased glutathione (GSH) content (P < 0.05). The pre‐treatments with SAC, SEC and SPC significantly decreased subsequent H2O2‐induced formation of MDA, ROS and GSSG (P < 0.05) and also alleviated H2O2‐induced GSH depletion (P < 0.05). Finally, H2O2 treatment significantly decreased Na+‐K+‐ATPase activity and elevated caspase‐3 activity (P < 0.05). The pre‐treatments with SAC, SEC and SPC significantly attenuated H2O2‐induced Na+‐K+‐ATPase activity reduction and caspase‐3 activity elevation (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The results obtained support that the three cysteine‐containing compounds studied are potent neuroprotective agents. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry