Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on apoptosis of Schwann cells induced by hydrogen peroxide.

BACKGROUND

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a traditional Chinese medicine with remarkable antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticoagulant properties. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection in protecting Schwann cells (SCs) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell apoptosis.

METHODS

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the establishment of the SC apoptosis model induced by H2O2. The effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on injured cell morphology was observed, and the effect on cell apoptosis was determined by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) apoptosis detection kit and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on apoptosis-related protein expression.

RESULTS

The results of the MTT assay showed that cell activity significantly decreased after treatment with 1 mM H2O2, but different concentrations of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection could improve cell activity at different degrees. The number of cells increased significantly after treatment with Salvia miltiorrhiza injection. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and TUNEL results revealed that Salvia miltiorrhiza injection could significantly reduce apoptosis induced by H2O2. Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly upregulated, while the expression level of Bax was significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

Salvia miltiorrhiza injection can protect SCs from H2O2-induced cell apoptosis, and has potential therapeutic effects in neurological disease.