Protective effects of fractions from Artemisia biennis hydro-ethanolic extract against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells

Abstract

<strong><em>Objective(s)</em></strong><em>:</em> This study was designed to indicate whether different fractions from <em>Artemisia biennis </em>hydroethanolic extract could provide cytoprotection against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by doxorubicin (DOX) in rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12). <br/><strong><em>Material and Methods:</em></strong>Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Also, activation of caspase-3 and superoxide dismutase were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were performed by flowcytometry. <br/><strong><em>Results: </em></strong>Treatment of PC12 cells with DOX reduced viability dose dependently. For evaluation of the effect of fractions (A-G) on DOX-induced cytotoxicity, PC12 cells were pretreated for 24 hr with the <em>A. biennis</em> fractions and then cells were treated with DOX. The fractions C and D increased PC12 cells viability significantly compared to DOX treated cells. Moreover, pretreatment with fractions C and D for 24 hr attenuated DOX-mediated apoptosis and the anti-apoptotic action of <em>A. biennis</em> fractions was partially dependent on inhibition of caspase 3 activity and also increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Selected <em>A. biennis</em> fractions also suppressed the generation of ROS and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. <br/><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> Taken together our observation indicated that subtoxic concentration of aforementioned fractions of <em>A. biennis </em>hydroetanolic extract has protective effect against apoptosis induced by DOX in PC12 cell. The results highlighted that fractions C and D may exert cytoprotective effects through their antioxidant actions.