San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury via inhibition of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

J Nat Med. 2012 Apr;66(2):311-20. doi: 10.1007/s11418-011-0592-0. Epub 2011 Oct 8.

Abstract

Oxidative stress has been widely implicated in the pathogenesis of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXT), a widely used traditional Chinese medication, has been shown to possess antioxidant effects. Here, we investigated whether SHXT and its main component baicalin can attenuate oxidative stress induced by H/R injury. H9c2 rat ventricular cells were exposed to SHXT or baicalin followed by hypoxia for 24 h and/or reoxygenation for 8 h. Pretreatment with SHXT and baicalin both significantly prevented cell death and production of reactive oxygen species induced by hypoxia or H/R in H9c2 cardiomyoctes. In addition, SHXT and baicalin also inhibited hypoxia- or H/R-induced apoptosis, with associated decreased Bax protein, increased Bcl-2 protein, and decreased caspase-3 activity. Furthermore, we found that hypoxia and H/R decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and nitrite production, and these effects were counteracted by SHXT and baicalein. Finally, SHXT inhibited H/R-induced activation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in H9c2 rat ventricular cells. The present study demonstrates for the first time that SHXT can protect cardiomyocytes from H/R injury via inhibition of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. These cardioprotective effects are possibly mediated through eNOS enhancement and p38 MAPK and JNK-dependent signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Nitrites / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Reperfusion Injury / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Nitrites
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang