ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the protective effect of trans-anethole on the PC12 cell injury induced by sodium azide. Methods: PC12 cells were exposed to sodium azide with concentration ranged from 9 ∼ 54 mmol · L-1. The survival rate of the cells was determined by CCK-8 assay. The cell morphology was detected with the inverted microscope; the apoptosis of cells was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining; the content of LDH, MDA levels and antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD were determined using the assay kits according to the manufacturer's protocol. Results PC12 cell injury induced by sodium azide presented a dose-effect relationship. The PC12 cell viability was not changed when treated by irans-anethole for 48 h. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with 10 μmol · L-1 and 60 μmol · L∼ trans-anethole for 8 h could obviously reduce cell injury, reduce LDH leakage and MDA level, as well as increase the antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD induced by sodium azide. Conclusions: Trans-anethole exerts significant protective effect on PC12 cell injury induced by sodium azide. The protective mechanism might be executed by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.