Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2008 November; 29 (11): 1319-1326; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00878.x

Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2008 November; 29 (11): 1319-1326; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2008.00878.x

Original Article

Protective effect of esculetin against oxidative stress-induced cell damage via scavenging reactive oxygen species

So-hyung KIM¹, Kyoung-ah KANG¹, Rui ZHANG¹, Mei-jing PIAO¹, Dong-ok KO¹, Zhi-hong WANG¹, Sung-wook CHAE², Sam-sik KANG³, Keun-hwa LEE¹, Hee-kyoung KANG¹, Hyun-wook KANG¹, Jin-won HYUN^{1, 4}

¹School of Medicine and Institute of Medical Science, Cheju National University, Jeju-si, Republic of Korea; ²Department of Herbal Resources Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; ³Natural Products Research Institute and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Aim: To investigate the anti-oxidant properties of esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) against H₂O₂-induced Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) damage.

Methods: The radical scavenging activity was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl radical, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, lipid peroxidation was assayed by the measure of related substances which react with thiobarbituric acid. The amount of carbonyl formation in protein was determined using a protein carbonyl ELISA kit. As well, cellular DNA damage was detected by Western blot and immuno-fluorescence image. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

Results: Esculetin exhibited DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and intracellular ROS scavenging activities. The radical scavenging activity of esculetin resulted in the protection of cells from lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, and DNA damage induced by H₂O₂. Therefore, esculetin recovered cell viability exposed to H₂O₂.

Conclusion: Esculetin efficiently attenuated the oxidative stress induced cell damage via its anti-oxidant properties. As a result, esculetin may be useful in the development of functional food and raw materials of medicine.

Keywords: anti-oxidant activity; esculetin; oxidative stress; cytoprotective activity; reactive oxygen species

⁴Correspondence to Prof Jin-won HYUN.
Phn 82-64-754-3838.
Fax 82-64-726-4152.
E-mail jinwonh@cheju.ac.kr
Received 2008-05-16 Accepted 2008-08-11

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