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Planta Med 2010; 76(1): 41-47
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185906
Pharmacology
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Protective Effect of Sauchinone by Upregulating Heme Oxygenase-1 via the P38 MAPK and Nrf2/ARE Pathways in HepG2 Cells

Gil-Saeng Jeong1 , Dong-Sung Lee2 , Bin Li2 , Erisa Byun2 , Dong-Yeul Kwon3 , Hyun Park1 , Youn-Chul Kim1 , 2
  • 1Zoonosis Research Center, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
  • 2College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
  • 3College of Pharmacy and Wonkwang–Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
Further Information

Publication History

received April 23, 2009 revised June 5, 2009

accepted June 11, 2009

Publication Date:
09 July 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Sauchinone, a unique lignan isolated from the roots of Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. (Saururaceae), is reported to exert potent hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory actions and inhibitory effects on bone resorption. This study investigated the potency of sauchinone as a hepatic heme oxygenase (HO)-1 inducer and its protective effects in HepG2 cells. Treatment of the cells with sauchinone induced HO-1 expression and increased HO activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. This expression conferred cytoprotection against oxidative injury induced by t-butyl hydroperoxide. HO-1 expression by sauchinone also suppressed t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced reactive oxygen species generation in HepG2 cells. Moreover, sauchinone promoted the nuclear accumulation of the nuclear factor, E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and increased the promoter property of the antioxidant response element (ARE). Furthermore, treatment of the cells with a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) reduced sauchine-induced HO-1 expression and its protective effects. These results suggest that sauchinone increases the cellular resistance of HepG2 cells to t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative injury, presumably through the p38 MAPK pathway-Nrf2/ARE-dependent HO-1 expression.

Key words

sauchinone - Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. - Saururaceae - heme oxygenase‐1 - t‐butyl hydroperoxide - HepG2 cells

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Prof. Youn-Chul Kim

Zoonosis Research Center
Wonkwang University

Iksan

Jeonbuk 570–749

Republic of Korea

Phone: + 82 6 38 50 68 23

Fax: + 82 6 38 52 88 37

Email: yckim@wku.ac.kr