Neuroprotective effects of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid on hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathological processes of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. The neuroprotective effects of 3,5-diCQA and 3,4-diCQA, two caffeoylquinic acid derivatives present in Dipsacus asper, on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced neuronal cell damage were evaluated in this study. SH-SY5Y cells treated with H2O2 exhibited a decrease in survival and intracellular glutathione and also an increase in the caspase-3 activity. However, pretreatment of cells with 3,5-diCQA attenuated the neuronal death and caspase-3 activation induced by H2O2. In addition, 3,5-diCQA restored H2O2-induced depletion of intracellular glutathione. 3,5-diCQA showed significant protective effects although it could not completely suppress H2O2-induced cell injury to control levels. The data suggest that 3,5-diCQA might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases implicated with oxidative stress. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.