Nrf2-Mediated HO-1 Induction Contributes to Antioxidant Capacity of a Schisandrae Fructus Ethanol Extract in C2C12 Myoblasts

• Main Authors: Ji Sook Kang, Min Ho Han, Gi-Young Kim, Cheol Min Kim, Byung Woo Kim, Hye Jin Hwang, Yung Hyun Choi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-12-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: Schisandrae Fructus; oxidative stress; ROS; Nrf2/HO-1
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/12/5667

This study was designed to confirm the protective effect of Schisandrae Fructus, which are the dried fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms in C2C12 myoblasts. Preincubating C2C12 cells with a Schisandrae Fructus ethanol extract (SFEE) significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced inhibition of growth and induced scavenging activity against intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by H2O2. SFEE also inhibited comet tail formation and phospho-histone γH2A.X expression, suggesting that it prevents H2O2-induced cellular DNA damage. Furthermore, treating C2C12 cells with SFEE significantly induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and phosphorylation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). However, zinc protoporphyrin IX, a potent inhibitor of HO-1 activity, significantly reversed the protective effects of SFEE against H2O2-induced growth inhibition and ROS generation in C2C12 cells. Additional experiments revealed that the potential of the SFEE to induce HO-1 expression and protect against H2O2-mediated cellular damage was abrogated by transient transfection with Nrf2-specific small interfering RNA, suggesting that the SFEE protected C2C12 cells against oxidative stress-induced injury through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.