Herba Cistanches stimulates cellular glutathione redox cycling by reactive oxygen species generated from mitochondrial respiration in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Earlier findings demonstrated that pretreatment of Herba Cistanches [the dried whole plant of Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma (Orobanchaceae)], a "Yang-invigorating" Chinese tonic herb, stimulated the ATP-generation capacity (ATP-GC) in mitochondria isolated from rat heart ex vivo. The enhancement of mitochondrial ATP-GC by Herba Cistanches was associated with induction of glutathione antioxidant status and protection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat hearts.

OBJECTIVES:

This study investigated the relationship between enhancements in mitochondrial ATP-GC and glutathione antioxidant status in H9c2 cardiomyocytes using a semipurified fraction of Herba Cistanches (HCF1).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

HCF1 (10-300 ng/mL) was tested for its effects on mitochondrial ATP generation, glutathione antioxidant status and protection against oxidant injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes and rat hearts.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

HCF1 at 30 ng/mL increased mitochondrial ATP-GC and ADP-stimulated state 3 respiration (by 50 and 100%, respectively) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The stimulation of mitochondrial respiration was associated with the induction of mitochondrial uncoupling (27%) and enhancement of cellular glutathione redox cycling as well as protection against hypoxia/reoxygenation (hypox/reoxy)-induced apoptosis (by 60%). While HCF1 treatment increased reactive oxygen species generation from mitochondrial respiration in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, pretreatment with antioxidants (DMTU) abrogated the HCF1-induced cellular responses and the associated cytoprotective effect. HCF1 pretreatment (1.14 and 3.41 mg/kg × 14) also protected against myocardial I/R injury in rats (by 13 and 32%), presumably mediated by the induction of glutathione antioxidant response.

CONCLUSION:

The long-term intake of HCF1 may offer a prospect for the prevention of ischemic heart disease.

• Authors: Hoi Shan Wong, Kam Ming Ko
• Journal: Pharmaceutical biology (Pharm Biol) Vol. 51 Issue 1 Pg. 64-73 (Jan 2013) ISSN: 1744-5116 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23035909 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Plant Extracts
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Adenosine Triphosphate
• Glutathione

Topics

• Adenosine Triphosphate (metabolism)
• Animals
• Antioxidants (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Cell Line
• Cell Respiration (drug effects)
• Cistanche (chemistry)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Mitochondria (drug effects, metabolism)
• Myocardial Reperfusion Injury (drug therapy, pathology)
• Myocytes, Cardiac (drug effects, pathology)
• Oxidation-Reduction (drug effects)
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)