NaoXinQing, an anti-stroke herbal medicine, reduces hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in NG108-15 cells

NaoXinQing (NXQ) is a patented and approved drug of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been used for years for the treatment of syndrome of apoplexy, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study is designed to investigate the effects of NXQ on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell damage in NG108-15 cells. Exposure to H2O2 induces apoptosis-like cell injury. Preincubation of cells with NXQ alleviated H2O2-induced cell injury and apoptosis. This herb medicine also improves redox imbalance in cells under the exposure of H2O2 as indicated by the attenuation in the reduction of activities of intracellular endogenous antioxidants, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase as well as catalase, and by the decrease in the leak of lactate dehydrogenase and the accumulation of malondialdehyde. These results indicate that NXQ significantly protects NG108-15 cells against H2O2 challenge by improving redox imbalance and inhibiting apoptosis, which might represent mechanisms underlying its potential usage in the prevention and treatment of syndrome of apoplexy. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.