Effects of Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS) on Oxidant-induced Cell Death in Human Neuroglioma Cells

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of acute and longterm neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine whether Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS), a well-known prescription in Korean traditional medicine, might have beneficial effects on ROS-induced brain cell injury. Methods: Human neuroglioma cell line A172 and H2O2 were employed as an experimental model cell and oxidant. Results: SHCS effectively protected the cells against both the necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by H2O2. The effect of SHCS was dose-dependent at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 5mg/ml. SHCS significantly prevented depletion of cellular ATP and activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase induced by H2O2. It also helped mitochondria to preserve its functional integrity estimated by MTT reduction ability. Furthermore, SHCS significantly prevented H202-induced release of cytochrome c into cytosol. Determination of intracellular ROS showed that SHCS might exert its role as a powerful scavenger of intracellular ROS. Conclusions: The present study provides clear evidence for the beneficial effect of SHCS on ROS-induced neuroglial cell injury. The action of SHCS as an ROS-scavenger might underlie the mechanism.