Neuroprotective effects of polysaccharides against oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis.

polysaccharides have protective effects against apoptosis in neurons exposed to ischemia/reperfusion injury, but the mechanisms are unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the effects of ganoderma polysaccharides against oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide (HO) was used to induce apoptosis in cultured cerebellar granule cells. In these cells, polysaccharides remarkably suppressed HO-induced apoptosis, decreased expression of caspase-3, Bax and Bim and increased that of Bcl-2. These findings suggested that polysaccharides regulate expression of apoptosis-associated proteins, inhibit oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis and, therefore, have significant neuroprotective effects.