Planta Med. 2002 Nov; 68(11): 966-70.

Tubuloside B from Cistanche salsa rescues the PC12 neuronal cells from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Sheng G, Pu X, Lei L, Tu P, Li C.

Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmaoclogy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.

The neuroprotective effects of tubuloside B, one of the phenylethanoids isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Cistanche salsa, on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP +)-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in PC12 neuronal cells were investigated. PC12 cells treated with MPP + underwent apoptotic death as determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis; intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by DCFH-DA staining with laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Simultaneous treatment with tubuloside B markedly attenuated MPP +-induced cytotoxicity, DNA fragmentation, and intracellular accumulation of ROS. These results strongly indicate that tubuloside B prevents MPP +-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. Tubuloside B may be applied as an antiparkinsonian agent.