Effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on the damage to human endometrial stromal cells induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Previous studies have shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBPs) serve an important role in antioxidant activity to protect the cells and tissues. However, the specific mechanism of LBPs in the prevention of endometrial damage remains to be elucidated. Using morphological observation, cell proliferation assay, the detection of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cell culture supernatant fluid, the detection by western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the mRNA and protein expression levels of caspase‑3 and Bcl‑2 in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), it was demonstrated that, in vitro, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced death of ESCs, increased the content of MDA and decreased the activity of SOD, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and increased the expression of caspase‑3. LBPs can inhibit H2O2‑induced cell death of ESCs, decrease the content of MDA in ESCs and increase the activity of SOD, as well as increasing the expression of Bcl‑2 and decreasing the expression levels of caspase‑3. These findings suggested that LBPs can inhibit H2O2‑induced apoptosis of EECs and that LBPs are able to offer a significant protection against oxidative stress to ESCs.