ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the neuroprotective effects of puerarin on H2O2-induced SH-SY5Y cell ap-optosis and the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects. Methods Neuron injury mod-el was established in vitro through H2O2-induced SH-SY5Y injury. MTT assay was performed to detect the effect of puerarin on H2O2-induced SH-SY5Y survival rates. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to observe the cell apoptosis. JC-1 staining was employed to detect the level of mitochondria membrane poential. Caspase-3 was determined by caspase-3 catalyze the substrate specificity Ac-DEVD-pNA. Caspase-9 was determined by caspase-9 catalyze the substrate specificity Ac-LE-HD-pNA. The effects of puerarin on the protein level of Bcl-2,Bax,p-Akt and Akt were determined by West-ern blot. Results The cell survival rate significantly increased after puerarin pretreatment compared with H2O2model group. Furthermore, puerarin pretreat-ment not only inhibited the decreasing of mitochondrial membrane potential,increasing of caspase-3, caspase-9 enzymatic activity and the expression of Bax,but also promoted the expression of p-Akt and Bcl-2, which was prevented by LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K/Akt. Conclusion Puerarin can play a neuroprotective role for SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis induced by H2O2, maybe via activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.